Important Announcements, NEWS and Updates
2023 TASBO Award of Merit for Purchasing Operations
Pictured from left to right:Josue Muñiz, Martha Casanova, Patricia G. Saldivar, Nilda Mora, Raul Garza
Texas Southmost College (TSC) was awarded its second Award of Merit for Purchasing Operations by the Texas Association of School Boards Officials (TASBO). The Award of Merit was established in 2009 to recognize Texas school districts, open-enrollment charter schools, and education services centers that are committed to following professional standards in the acquisition of goods and services in accordance to State of Texas laws. Out of more than 1,000 school systems in the state, only 71 recipients met the award criteria for 2023. TSC remains the only community college to earn the award.
“These organizations have gone above and beyond to demonstrate transparency by meticulously documenting their districts’ policies and procedures,” said Tracy Ginsburg, TASBO Executive Director. “Not only have they showcased the ways they monitor spending, improve budgeting, implement controls, and enhance financial reporting, but they have shared their best practices with colleagues throughout Texas, helping even more educational organizations to better utilize taxpayer dollars.”
Members of the TSC Purchasing team were honored at an awards reception in San Antonio, Texas, on February 15 during the 2023 TASBO annual conference. Thank you to the Purchasing and Contract Management staff for their hard work, dedication, and commitment in reaching higher standards and taking on new challenges.
“We feel very proud to be recognized as one of the educational institutions and the only community college to receive this merit award for a second time,” said Patricia G. Saldivar, TSC Director of Purchasing. “This award represents the effort in following best practices in the area of purchasing operations, and it continues a tradition of efficiency and effectiveness at TSC.
“A warm thank you to our honorable board of trustees, college president, and department vice president for their leadership and guidance toward ethical practices and transparency for the community. “
December 2022 Holidays
‘Tis the season for family, food and fellowship. Wishing all of our TSC family, vendors, contractors, and community nothing but the best that these times have to offer.
2022 NPI Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award (AEP) ®
The National Procurement Institute recently awarded TSC with the prestigious 2022 Annual Achievement of Excellence in Procurement award. Read the full story below:
Prestigious Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award ® – Texas Border Business
2022 How to do business with TSC – Virtual Vendor Seminar
Texas Southmost College will be hosting its annual Vendor Seminar on How to do Business with TSC on September 1, 2022. This seminar is STRONGLY ENCOURAGED for all vendors currently servicing TSC and working on campus premises. Also join via Zoom
2022 Fiscal Year-End Calendar
As TSC’s fiscal year-end quickly approaches, there are a number of important deadlines that departments should be aware of in order to establish a smooth transition during the closing of the year. For this reason, we ask you to plan accordingly and begin processing transactions with ample time before each deadline.
Please click 
Calendar to view deadlines for each transaction. Your cooperation in meeting these deadlines is greatly appreciated. For any questions, please contact the Purchasing department.
2022 TASBO Award of Merit for Purchasing Operations
Texas Southmost College (TSC) has been recognized as a first-time recipient for the Award of Merit for Purchasing Operations by the Texas Association of School Business Officials (TASBO) during its annual conference held in Grapevine, Texas on March 2, 2022. For 2022, only 58 districts met the stringent criteria to qualify for the award making TSC, the first community college ever recognized.
The Award of Merit was established in 2009 to recognize Texas school districts, open-enrollment charter schools, and education service centers that are committed to following professional standards in the acquisition of goods and services. Each year, volunteers with the TASBO Purchasing & Supply Management Research Committee evaluate the award criteria to ensure it represents the latest best practices. They then review new and recertification applications.
“As Texas school districts face ever-increasing pressure to use funds efficiently, we’re honored to recognize the work our honorees do to streamline operations, comply with regulations, and set the standard for how to utilize taxpayer dollars,” said Tracy Ginsburg, TASBO Executive Director. “These organizations have not only demonstrated their professional purchasing operations by documenting their districts’ policies and procedures, but have also shared these best practices with colleagues throughout the state.”
New TSC Vendor Registration and Electronic Solicitation Platform: Bonfire
Dear TSC Community,
Texas Southmost College has partnered with Bonfire Interactive to create a new procurement portal that will allow you to receive notifications of business opportunities and submit quotes and proposals digitally.
Vendors are requested to visit Bonfire and create a Bonfire vendor account; this registration is easy and free. Please be sure to select NIGP codes associated with your type of business or organization. Our solicitations will be set up using those codes and will be matched to vendors and contractors with the same codes.
Texas Southmost College is excited about the changes we are making to streamline our electronic solicitation process and we look forward to continuing our good relationship with you and appreciate your interest.
Board Approval Timeline on Contracts Over $25,000
Above you will find timeline schedule for Board approval on contracts over $25,000. The schedule includes the months from the remaining period of Fiscal Year 2014. The dates are subject to change according to board meeting dates to be scheduled. Forms with required information will be sent to the department units for evaluation and recommendation for award processes as needed.
As you may be aware, our existing policy states that purchases for amounts of $25,000 or more require formal (newspaper advertisement) competitive bidding. Formal competitive bidding process must be conducted according to the TSC Board Policy and Texas Education Code for Purchasing and Acquisition Procedures. All purchase contracts that exceed $25,000 must be approved by the TSC Board before goods or services are acquired.
Consulting Services for amounts of $25,000 or more require formal competitive bidding through a Request for Proposals (RFP) process. A contract approved by the TSC Board must first be obtained before services are acquired for all contracts that exceed $500,000.
Professional Services for amounts of $25,000 or more require an informal Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process. A formal RFQ process and a contract approved by the TSC Board must first be obtained before services are acquired for all contracts that exceed $500,000.
Professional Services means services within the scope of the following practices:
- Accounting
- Architecture
- Landscape architecture
- Land Surveying
- Medicine
- Optometry
- Professional engineering
- Real estate appraising; or
- Professional Nursing
Please contact me to obtain assistance with the bidding process and obtain clarifications in respect to the purchasing acquisition method to be used for your desired items or services as the identification of sole source items when required.
Feel free to forward this information to interested users within your department units
Acquisition of Facilities and Information Technology Items
As part of the process for the acquisition of Facilities and Information Technology items, Purchasing encourages all departments to coordinate the purchase of these items through the appropriate departments.
The specifications and standards for all TSC building maintenance repairs, furniture, computer equipment and other information technology items and services, including software, are guidelines to serve as a plan to maximize the use of existing resources and cost savings.
Departments can coordinate the purchases of these items through work orders. Please include a filled requisition to purchase with the purpose of the purchase, item(s) description, and quote(s) (when applicable) for review and approval.
Requests for the need of accounts with Ricoh/IKON for copiers and Office Depot for office supplies should be submitted to:
[email protected]