UC Riverside Procurement Results 2026
UC Riverside
UC Riverside Achievements by Strategic Pillar
Strategic Partnerships
New Agreement Expands Riverside GIS Resources
UC Riverside expanded campus access to Esri tools from 5,900 to 15,000 users through a new systemwide agreement
Challenge
UC Riverside joined the UCOP Esri Consortium through a new systemwide licensing agreement, expanding access to geospatial and mapping tools used in teaching, research, and administration. The agreement increased UC Riverside allotment from 5,900 active users to 15,000, creating capacity for broader use across the campus.
Approach
UC Riverside launched Redwood Self Service Procurement in Oracle in August 2025, replacing the classic purchase-requisition interface with a modernized buying experience for campus users. Procurement supported the transition with training guides and videos, known-issue tracking, live webinars, and office hours.
Result
Students can use Esri tools for data science and visualization, faculty can build interactive instruction, researchers can conduct advanced spatial analysis, and staff can support operational needs.
Related Links:
New agreement expands GIS resources
Related Annual Report pillar page
Why it matters
The partnership demonstrates how systemwide contracting can extend specialized technology access and institutional value.
| At a Glance |
|---|
| 5,900 → 15,000 Users UCR’s Esri active-user allotment expanded |
| Campuswide Access Supports teaching, research, data visualization, and administrative operations |
| Systemwide Partnership Expanded through UCR’s participation in the UCOP Esri Consortium. |
Drive Value and Savings
Optimizing UCR Mobile Service Pricing
New mobile-service pricing reduced eligible monthly rates from about $45 to $30 while adding device discounts and account-level savings for campus users.
Challenge
Campus mobile-service rates averaged about $45 a month. UC Riverside needed account-level pricing, device value, and credits that would lower recurring cost.
Approach
UC Riverside Procurement worked with AT&T to optimize campus mobile-service pricing, reducing the monthly rate for active and new smartphone, tablet, and mobile-hotspot lines to $30 from an average of ~$45 - a 33% reduction.
Result
A limited-time offer also made eligible iPhone 17 devices available for $0.99, while existing smartphone lines received a $100 credit over 36 months, lowering the effective monthly service cost to about $27.21 during that period.
Related Links:
Optimizing Mobile Service Pricing and Device Value
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Why it matters
The initiative combines account-level negotiation, device value, and buyback options to reduce recurring costs across campus.
| At a Glance |
|---|
| $45 → $30 Average monthly mobile-service pricing reduced. |
| $100 Credit Applied over 36 months to existing smartphone lines. |
| $27.21 Effective Rate Approximate monthly service cost during the credit period. |
Continuous Improvement
Redwood Self-Service Procurement Modernizes Purchase Requisitions
UC Riverside launched Redwood Self Service Procurement to simplify and modernize the campus purchasing
experience.
Challenge
The classic Oracle purchase-requisition interface no longer matched how campus users needed to buy. UC Riverside required a modern self-service path plus training and support for the change.
Approach
UC Riverside launched Redwood Self Service Procurement in Oracle in August 2025, replacing the classic purchase-requisition interface with a modernized buying experience for campus users. Procurement supported the transition with training guides and videos, known-issue tracking, live webinars, and office hours.
Result
This rollout gives departments a new pathway for creating and managing requisitions and allows for future Oracle Redwood updates.
Related Links:
Redwood Purchase Requisitions Overview
Related Annual Report pillar page
Why it matters
By pairing system modernization with structured change management, UC Riverside is improving functionality, standardizing processes, and helping users purchase with greater confidence.
| At a Glance |
|---|
| Modernized Experience Replaced the classic Oracle purchase-requisition interface. |
| Multiple Support Channels Training guides, videos, webinars, office hours, and known-issue tracking supported adoption. |
| Standardized Purchasing Creates a more consistent requisition process while preparing UCR for future Redwood updates. |
Campus Feedback Turns into a Flexible PI Approval Workflow
UC Riverside turned campus feedback into a more flexible requisition workflow that makes it easier to include PIs when needed.
Challenge
Departments needed Principal Investigators on some requisitions, especially extramural-funded requests below $10,000, without breaking the standard Redwood approval workflow.
Approach
UC Riverside turned campus feedback into a more flexible approval option in Redwood Self Service Procurement. After departments surfaced a need to include Principal Investigators in requisition workflows, Business & Financial Services gathered feedback, tested an Oracle workaround, and deployed the Ad Hoc FYI Reviewer option.
Result
This feature lets users add an approver when creating a requisition, and routes the request to that person before the standard workflow continues.
Related Links:
Implementation of Ad Hoc Approvers in RSSP
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Why it matters
It is commonly used to include PIs on extramural-funded requisitions below $10,000, balancing policy consistency with departmental flexibility.
| At a Glance |
|---|
| Below $10K Common use case for PI review on extramural-funded requisitions. |
| Ad Hoc FYI Reviewer Allows users to add an approver before the standard Redwood workflow continues |
| More Flexibility Adds PI visibility without disrupting the standard requisition process |
Building a Feedback-Driven Procurement Process Improvement Series
UC Riverside created a recurring procurement forum that brings practical walkthroughs, real campus use cases, and process education together in one place.
Challenge
Recurring Oracle procurement issues were handled case by case. Campus users needed a structured series that combined walkthroughs, real use cases, and a feedback loop.
Approach
UC Riverside Procurement launched a topic-based Process Improvement Series to gather campus feedback on recurring Oracle Procurement challenges and strengthen procure-to-pay learning. FY26 sessions addressed supplier onboarding, branded materials, covered services, requisitions, furniture and audiovisual purchases, purchase orders, software, vendor risk assessments, reporting, life-science equipment, common forms, and events and catering.
Result
Each forum combined practical walkthroughs with real campus use cases, helping identify common pain points while providing clearer guidance.
Related Links:
Procurement Learning Series
Related Annual Report pillar page
Why it matters
This series creates an ongoing structured feedback loop for improving systems, processes, and customer understanding.
| At a Glance |
|---|
| Real Campus Use Cases Forums paired practical walkthroughs with actual user experiences. |
| Ongoing Feedback Loop Campus input helps identify pain points and improvement opportunities. |
| Broader P2P Learning Topics ranged from supplier onboarding and requisitions to software, risk, reporting, and events. |
Risk Management
Coordinating Computer Purchasing Amid Global Supply Constraints
UC Riverside's procurement helped departments plan around rising computer costs, extended lead times, backorders, and product substitutions during global hardware constraints.
Challenge
A global shortage of memory and storage chips raised hardware prices, stretched lead times, and increased the chance of backorders and substitutions.
Approach
UC Riverside Procurement and Information Technology Solutions coordinated campus guidance in response to a global shortage of memory and storage chips. Departments were advised to expect higher hardware prices, lead times of approximately 6-14 weeks, possible backorders, and model substitutions across manufacturers.
Result
The teams encouraged earlier ordering, broader planning with faculty and researchers, and consideration of approved alternatives when standard devices are unavailable.
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Ongoing Pricing Increases & Lead Time Impacts
Related Annual Report pillar page
Why it matters
By translating market conditions into timely purchasing guidance, UC Riverside is helping departments manage budget exposure, availability risk, and operational timelines during a volatile supply environment.
| At a Glance |
|---|
| 6–14 Weeks Expected hardware lead times during global supply constraints. |
| Higher Pricing Campus departments were advised to plan for increased hardware costs. |
| Approved Alternatives Departments were encouraged to consider substitute models when standard devices were unavailable. |