Lab Supplies and Equipment

With research underway in hundreds of departments, labs, and centers, the Institute needs reliable sources of supplies and services to keep its complex research enterprise running. From equipment to chemicals to life science products, VPF has the expertise to ensure you can make your purchases safely and easily.

Quick Tips From Our Experts

Use Preferred Suppliers Whenever Possible.

Supplier Search has a wide variety of suppliers who offer an extensive range of products and services with negotiated pricing.

Need it Today?

The VWR Stockroom located in Building 56 may have the supplies you are looking for.

MIT Has Tools to Make Your Lab as Safe and Sustainable as Possible.

You can check out great tips from VPF and EHS; use Supplier Search to find suppliers that offer sustainable products and services; and check out Rheaply for surplus goods from other MIT offices and labs.  

Be Aware of Special Ordering, Shipping, or Delivery Processes.

Certain products — such as high-proof ethanol and pressurized cylinders — have unique ordering processes to ensure safety and compliance. Learn more about purchasing hazardous or dangerous items.

Benefits of Preferred Suppliers

Preferred Suppliers found in Supplier Search have already been vetted through VPF, and using one of these many choices offers you considerable advantages:

  • Save money with pre-negotiated discounts.
  • Save time by buying directly online through Buy-to-Pay (B2P).
  • Reduce stress: All Preferred Suppliers are already compliant with MIT’s policies and insurance requirements.

If you do choose to go with a non-preferred supplier for purchases that exceed $10,000, you will need to fill out a Selection of Source form. If you need a special or high-cost item from a non-preferred supplier, contact us for help with negotiating a contract and/or better pricing, if possible.

Purchasing Dangerous or Hazardous Goods

Certain products — such as toxic chemicals or precious metals — have unique ordering processes to ensure safety and compliance.

Purchase with Purpose

The Safe and Sustainable Lab (S2L) program is an initiative led by MIT Environment, Health & Safety that is working to strengthen our sustainable initiatives, identify new areas of improvement, and help reach the goals of MIT’s Climate Action Plan.

The VPF team is supporting these efforts through our work with Preferred Suppliers to offer more sustainable products at more desirable price points, in addition to advocating for reduced packaging and take-back programs of hard-to-recycle items. Learn more about what is available from each supplier on their Supplier Search page.

Many of MIT’s Preferred Suppliers are categorized as local, small, and diverse, which can include women-, veteran-, or minority-owned, as well as those located in underutilized business zones.

Additionally, many of our suppliers identify items produced by small and diverse businesses using icons in their catalogs on Buy-to-Pay (also known as B2P). You can learn more about each supplier on Supplier Search.