Jan 20, 2015
Vancouver, BC – Langara College has brokered a commercial credit card deal with Scotiabank for the BC Public Post-Secondary Purchasing Consortium (BCPPSPC). The deal will generate an estimated $1 million in savings per year for the consortium once the program is fully deployed across BC’s institutions.
Eight institutions (Camosun College, College of New Caledonia, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Langara College, North Island College, University of the Fraser Valley, Vancouver Community College, and Simon Fraser University) will be participating in the initial implementation. The contract allows for additional institutions to participate as their current commercial credit card contracts expire.
“I’m very proud of the leadership role that Langara played in this project,” said Barry Coulson, Langara Associate Vice-President Administration and Finance and BCPPSPC Finance Project Lead. “Our team worked hard over the last eight months to make this happen. It is very gratifying to see our collaborative efforts translate into significant savings and process efficiencies for BCPPSPC member institutions.”
“The project was precedent setting, as it was the first time in Canada that a non-legal entity was able to issue and broker a negotiated tender call,” said Chris Arnold-Forster, Langara Purchasing Manager and BCPPSPC Finance Project Procurement Lead. “I am sure that the project framework will have significant impact on similar projects in the future. I’m delighted with what we have been able to achieve.”
The commercial credit card procurement process is one of four projects currently being led by Langara College for BCPPSPC. Projects currently underway include opportunities to reduce banking transaction fees and credit card merchant fees, as well as working with government to improve deposit interest rates.
About the BC Public Post-Secondary Purchasing Consortium
In May 2014, the Province’s 25 public post-secondary institutions formed a joint procurement consortium, to pursue joint purchasing and advertise for goods and services through BC Bid. To date, savings and cost avoidance of more than $10 million in the public post-secondary sector have been achieved.
About Langara College
Located in beautiful Vancouver, BC, Canada, Langara College provides University, Career, and Continuing Studies education to more than 21,000 students annually. With more than 1,700 courses and 130 programs, Langara's expansive academic breadth and depth allows students of all ages, backgrounds, and life stages to choose their own educational path.
Learn more.
Mark Dawson
Manager, Communications and Marketing
Langara College
604.323.5702
mdawson@langara.ca