Background
This ordinance authorizes the Finance and Management Director to modify a contract with Vinimaya Inc., for software hosted solutions related to the electronic procurement system for the Purchasing Office. Ordinance No. 1625-2017 authorized the Finance and Management Director to renew the contract with Vinimaya Inc. through mid-June 2018 for the continuation of hosted software solutions and professional services related to the vMarketPlace. This was the first of two renewal options.
The vMarketPlace is an electronic catalog administered by the Purchasing Office. It is made available to City staff, allowing them to purchase items from universal term contracts. Currently, there are over 200 contracts in the electronic catalog, with over 3 million distinct items. The electronic catalog aggregates catalog content from City contracts and externally manages the content for a single site.
This modification will upgrade the vMarketPlace to a new platform called Aquiire. Aquiire will provide three major improvements: the search function will be improved, users will be able to find better pricing before they check out, and purchase orders will be electronically delivered to punch-out vendors.
Improved Search Function. Aquiire’s search function will be much improved. It will return more targeted and more manageable search results, allowing end users to find the item they are looking for more quickly and efficiently. Additionally, the results will return easy-to-use key words that end users can click on to narrow their search further.
Alternative Supplier Pricing. As users go to check out, Aquiire will automatically present users with the same items from other UTC vendors at lower prices. With one click, end users can select the lower priced item, saving the City money in real time.
Supplier Connect. Currently, all vendors receive purchase orders through e-mail. Supplier Connect will allow purchase orders to be sent electronically back to a vendor’s e-commerc...
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