Iowa State University has a Contractual Agreement with Workspace Inc. to sell the Steelcase product lines, along with some supplemental lines to ISU at substantial discounts.  This is a mandatory contract for all new furniture unless there is a substantiated reason for utilizing another manufacturer, such as matching existing furniture or a need they cannot meet.  This agreement was the result of a competitive process.  This Agreement gives ISU access to all of the Steelcase product lines at substantial discounts.  Steelcase has several pricing levels of furniture to meet departments' needs and budgets.

Furniture can be quoted/designed/specified by the FPM Interior Designers, Rebecca Cantrall (4-0015), Judy Dugan (4-0010) or Carrie Choudhury (4-7192). Any request for anything other than the Steelcase product, regardless of the dollar amount, will need a written justification that will be subject to approval.

• The University has entered into a Contractual Agreement with Workspace Inc. for the Steelcase line of furniture.  This contract was competitively bid; therefore, an order for any amount can be placed against it.  This contract is mandatory for all office furniture unless there is a specific need to match another manufacturer, and that requires a written justification.
• For Allsteel furniture that is required to match existing or integrate with existing Allsteel furniture, it will be specified by the FP&M designers. No bids will be required, provided an approved sole source justification for Allsteel is in the file.
• Orders for other office furniture, which are justified and cannot be purchased using one of the aforementioned contracts, must have written justification that will be subject to approval or denial.  In addition, requests that total over $50,000 must be competitively bid.  A Request for Quotations will be issued on an acceptable alternate basis with various award criteria.

Submit a Request for Services Form to FPM and request to have one of the interior designers assist you with the redesign.  The FPM Interior Designers, Rebecca Cantrall (4-0015), Judy Dugan (4-0010), or Carrie Choudhury (4-7192).

Furniture from mail order catalogs, Office Depot (cyBUY), Staples, Sam's Club, and other similar businesses is not allowed.  This type of furniture is lower quality and will not withstand extended use.  In addition, most of these products do not have extended warranties, and obtaining any warranty service is extremely difficult, if not impossible.  Subsequently, the furniture becomes disposable.  There is also a chance we can get the identical or similar product through Workspace Inc. at a similar price.

No, all furniture purchases must be made on a requisition using contracts in place.  In most cases, we can obtain the identical item at equal or lower prices through our contracted furniture dealer, Workspace Inc..

No furniture is stocked on campus.  Some used furniture is available through Surplus.

Furniture is not manufactured in advance and stored in Warehouses.  Manufacturers begin making your furniture upon receipt of the ISU Purchase order.  Lead times depend on the product being ordered but can range from 2.5 – 8 weeks.  Specials can take even longer.

All purchases of furniture must be made through the Procurement Services using a non-catalog requisition.  Furniture cannot be purchased on a procurement card.  At no time should an employee purchase furniture and submit receipts for reimbursement.

Procurement Services has a competitively bid contract for the purchase of task chairs by the University.  This contract was awarded to multiple suppliers, and there are 8 different chairs on contract.  Each chair went through an extensive evaluation procedure, including ergonomic requirements, cost, features, comfort, and construction.    

If you just want to move the existing furniture (a filing cabinet, desk, etc.) around, then you can contact Central Stores and schedule the move.  However, if additional furniture pieces are needed, you need to submit a Request for Services to FPM and request to have one of the interior designers assist you with the redesign.  FPM Interior Designers Rebecca Cantrall (4-0015), Judy Dugan (4-0010), or Carrie Choudhury (4-7192).

Contact Tisha Campbell (4-4542), and she will provide you with information on how to submit a warranty request.