At Cal Poly, we emphasize open, fair and inclusive procurement – ensuring that the best goods and services are purchased to meet campus needs. We actively partner with Small Businesses (SB) and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises (DVBE), as well as promote opportunities with other diverse businesses, including LGBTQ, minority and women owned.
Our Procurement Services team – a department within Strategic Business Services – carefully manages every purchase to support the university’s goals for quality, efficiency and sustainability.
Covering everything from facilities to housing and commencement to Swanton Pacific Ranch, the procurement team helps to support the university’s mission.
Over the past year the procurement team managed $208 million in total spending, with $27 million of that spent with local SLO County businesses. And through it all, they achieved $24 million in cost savings.
To help give a better picture of the breadth of purchases that they make on an annual basis, the team put together a very short list of some of the supplies, equipment and odds and ends that they purchase and rent throughout the year.
- 475,200 rolls of bathroom tissue, made from 100% recycled paper.
- 12,960 rolls of hand towels, made from 100% recycled paper.
- 1,275 foam mattresses tested for both comfort and sustainability.
- 90,000 linear feet – roughly the length of 300 football fields – of fencing, between Cal Poly and Swanton Pacific Ranch.
- 325 portable toilets rented to support events like WOW and Commencement.
These numbers not only align with Cal Poly’s goals, but they also highlight the essential efforts that keep the university running smoothly. By aligning our procurement choices with our values, we ensure that every dollar spent contributes to the well-being of students, the campus and the surrounding community. For more information about our procurement system and partnership opportunities, visit the Procurement Services webpage.