Contracts Administration

Cobblestone Contract Insight Login

The new Contract Administration process was approved and went live on April 15, 2015.

The goals of the initiative are to:

• process contracts in a timely and cost effective manner
• maintain standard contract templates for use across campus
• provide constructive input on legal contract documents relating to purchasing items, conditions, indemnification, intellectual property, etc.
• manage complex processes across functions, including legal and risk
• address vendor performance issues
• manage the contract tracking software

Independent Contractors

Changes to current process implemented for 2017 services

• Classification will be determined by the Tax Department
• Revised checklist for services performed in 2017 (see link below)

https://www.smu.edu/BusinessFinance/OfficeOfBudgetAndFinance/TaxCompliance/IndependentContractorDetermination

• Section A - Drop down features for some fields on electronic form
• Sections B and C - Changes to questions
• Section D – Statement of work required 
• Section D – Specific dates of services require that if a date range is entered that the number of times worker will be used,  estimated dates of service and total expected costs must be provided

A statement of work is a document that lists the project-specific activities, deliverables, and timelines for an individual providing service to SMU.  Below are tips to writing a statement work and also an optional statement of work template.   

Tips - Writing a Statement of Work

Statement of Work Template

Review the SMU Policy

Policy on Contracts and Commitments 

A central contract lead will facilitate the process for specific areas on campus.  These identified employees are called Contract Leads and will receive specialized training on the administration software and best practices.  They will also become part of a community of practice to share information and learn from each other.  Contract leads will work with their area to process and track the contracts.

Contract leads are identified as:

Athletics	Mariah Chappell Kris Harris
Business Finance	Sandra Tefft Shannon Brown Denton Bricker Tamara Hurdle
Central University Libraries	Meg Ruckman
Cox School of Business	Catherine Collins
Dedman College	Cindy Havens
Dedman School of Law	Betty Alexander
Development and External Affairs	Cchea Nugent
Lyle School of Engineering	Somelea Neville Dee Dee Conway (backup)
Meadows School of the Arts	David Sedman Anne Lenhart (Meadows Museum) Robin Linek (Meadows Museum) Julie Herrick (Meadows Museum)
Office of Information Technology	George Finney Jacqueline McKethan
Office of Research Administration	Kimberly Jones-Ross Shanteria Cobb
Perkins School of Theology	Reba Gram Duane Harbin Teresa Rosado (Perkins Chapel)
Provost	Daniel Eady Kimberly Rutigliano (CAPE)
Simmons School of Education and Human Development	Becky Hood Kathryn Canterbury (Research) Pamela Bailey (Core)
Student Affairs	Lydia Dale
Treasurer	Dianne Jopling

Contracts Metrics:

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Links to OE2C Initiative Blog Posts:

Contract Administration Inititative Mission

Contracts Initiative Announces Process Improvements

Contract Administration Initiative Completes Diagnostic Phase and Begins Design Work

Contract Administration Initiative Completes Diagnostic Phase and Begins Design Work

Contract Administration: New initiative to update policies, streamline process

New Contract Initiative Makes for Smoother Processing at SMU

Contact Us:

Melanie Bailey, Senior Contracts Administrator:  214-768-1294 or melanieb@smu.edu.