Who We Are And What We Do

The role of VPF Strategic Sourcing is to develop and manage strategic partnerships with Preferred Suppliers, allowing all members of MIT’s community to take advantage of the Institute’s extensive buying power.

Strategic Sourcing is your go-to for:

• Leveraging MIT’s Preferred Suppliers and learning more about them through Supplier Search 
• Expert buying advice in specific commodity areas
• Guidance to support your DLCI's sourcing efforts
• Information about the Purchase with Purpose Program at MIT

VPF Contracts advises, reviews, drafts, negotiates, and executes commercial agreements for the procurement of goods and services at the Institute.

Contracts is your go-to for:

• Obtaining an authorized signature for contracts for goods and services on behalf of MIT
• Ensuring the contract you are making aligns with your scope of work to help avoid later misunderstandings between you and the supplier
• Ensuring that contracts for goods and services align with Institute policies and reduce MIT’s liability risk
• Negotiating contract terms with suppliers as necessary

VPF Procurement Operations helps members of the MIT community in the purchasing process for goods and services.

Procurement Operations is your go-to for:

• Creating requisitions and making purchases within the Buy-to-Pay (B2P) system
• Working with Research Administration Services (RAS) in the Office of the Vice President for Research (VPR) to help you stay compliant with sponsor requirements
• Working with MIT Environment, Health & Safety (EHS) to facilitate your purchase of lab chemicals and hazardous or sensitive materials

VPF Travel and Card Services oversees travel expense reporting and reimbursements for MIT faculty, students, and staff and administers MIT Travel Cards and MIT Procurement Cards (ProCards).

Travel and Card Services is your go-to for:

• Help completing and submitting travel expense reports
• Answers to your questions about using your MIT Travel Card and the MIT ProCard
• Expertise on how to comply with MIT and sponsor requirements for travel expensing

VPF Accounts Payable (AP) team pays invoices for goods and services.

AP is your go-to for:

• Help with or questions about processing payments to suppliers
• Questions from suppliers about using MIT systems, non-payroll taxes, and more
• Setting up new suppliers
• Help with or questions about processing an Electronic Request for Payment (eRFP).