IPC Group Purchasing

IPC Contracting Guidelines

IPC provides regional group contracting services to its members. The primary goal of the program is to provide members with better pricing on products and services than they would obtain on their own. IPC offers the Premier, Inc. national contract portfolio plus favorable pricing on products and services that are not available through a national GPO partner.

General Guidelines

  • The Advisory Council ("Council"), a board comprised of representatives from each IPC member hospital, directs contracting decisions.
  • Premier's contracting portfolio is the primary resource for contracting opportunities.
  • Enhancements of Premier agreements are developed based on aggregating the majority supplier's volume whenever possible.
  • Categories of products are prioritized according to spend and savings opportunities and with Council input.
  • Upon IPC's review, suppliers offering new opportunities will be shared with the Council to determine interest in moving forward.
  • IPC seeks to sign only one supplier agreement in any contract category.
  • Council input is encouraged and welcomed throughout the contracting process.

Clinical and Specialty Categories

  • The Council forms committees as needed to define and review contract opportunities in certain specialty and clinical areas.
  • Since clinical practice varies according to facility, IPC works to identify best practices in member hospitals to assist in developing successful clinical category contracts.
  • Should the Council decide to pursue a Physician Preference Item (PPI) opportunity, a longer implementation strategy is acknowledged.
  • Council members will consider non-Premier innovative solutions for review in clinical categories.
  • IPC staff will coordinate all data analysis and contract negotiation in these categories.

Contract Calendar

  • Absent special circumstances or opportunities, IPC initiatives are pursued in accordance with the Premier contract calendar.

IPC Direct Contracting

  • Non-Premier contracted categories, products and services are considered under the following circumstances:
    • At the direction of the Council
    • Based on data collected from Premier Connect™ Supply Chain and other sources; or
    • In consideration of an inquiry or proposal from a supplier
  • The Premier contract calendar helps to determine when an inquiry from a potential direct supplier will be presented to the Council.
  • When presenting direct opportunities to IPC members, IPC staff provides comparative information on competing Premier suppliers.
  • IPC staff screens inquiries from prospective suppliers using a "Supplier Profile" questionnaire.

Contract Implementation

  • Suppliers are instructed to work with member Supply Chain leaders and their respective IPC or Premier Region Director for implementation of all IPC agreements.
  • IPC conducts regular business reviews with contracted suppliers.
  • IPC reviews contract activations and savings reported by members.
  • Members are asked to evaluate supplier performance as part of IPC's supplier performance review process.