Purdue approves contract to lower coal costs

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - The Purdue Board of Trustees approved a contract to lower coal costs, among other contracts, last Saturday at its meeting.

The trustees approved a $7.4 million contract with Peabody/CoalSales to purchase roughly 100,000 tons of stoker coal during an 18-month period beginning at the start of the 2013 calendar.

Peabody previously made uncontested bids, which the University was required to accept because state law limits Purdue to purchasing from Hoosier coal suppliers.

The University’s recruitment of a second bidder created a more competitive environment, which resulted in a $262,800 savings compared to the current contract. University general funds cover the cost.

The trustees also approved payment of a property insurance premium of $2.3 million to Factory Mutual Insurance Co. of  Park Ridge, Ill., to cover a 12-month period that began Sept. 30. An increase in assets covered by the policy resulted in a premium increase of slightly more than $100,000.

The property insurance program provides broad peril property damage coverage to Purdue's buildings and contents on all campuses. The payment will be drawn from auxiliary funds.

Trustees approved a $2.9 million contract with Ariba Inc. that allows Purdue Procurement Services to move to cloud-based software services as opposed to a CD-based program.

"The program will transform payment processes, policies, procedures and organizational capabilities," Senior vice president for business services and assistant treasurer Jim Almond said. "The software will enable the university to make further progress in its strategic sourcing efforts."

The five-year contract will be paid from University general funds.

Trustees approved renewal of a lease for approximately 30,000 square feet in the Ross Enterprise Center to house Information Technology at Purdue's enterprise applications and security and policy departments. The five-year lease is about $400,000 annually, an average of $14.23 per square foot, to be paid from the University's general fund.

The Physical Facilities Committee on Friday (Dec. 14) approved a $2.9 million contract with J.R. Kelly Co. of Lafayette to install a fire sprinkler system in currently uncovered portions of Stewart Center and to update the fire alarm system throughout the building. University repair and rehabilitation funds will pay for the work.