AGENCY UPDATES
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Update: Contract Shells in OhioBuys
Requisitions that require an IT or non-IT Release and Permit and seek to purchase off an IT Agency Administered contracts, but are not linked to an IT Agency Administered contract in OhioBuys, will not be approved during the respective Release and Permit phase of the workflow.
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- DAS will begin looking for Agency Administered contract shells as of 1/2/2025; DAS will remind the agency of the new requirements but ultimately allow them to proceed by approving the requisition/issuing the release and permit.
- Grace period during which Release and Permits will still be issued if shell doesn’t exist; through 3/31/2025.
- Contract shells must also have signed documents attached; scope of work, terms and conditions, and service level agreements must be visible, at a minimum.
- Agencies using standalone systems for contract management are not required to stop using them, but the above requirements must also be met in OhioBuys.
Ohio Administrative Policy PM-01 Purchasing Goods and Services already includes a requirement in section III. B. 1. that requires agencies to adopt and use OhioBuys, including for creating, managing, and awarding contracts.
For a refresher on Contract Shells, please refer to the following sections in the Creating and Managing Contracts Book (pdf):
- Creating a Contract Without an OhioBuys Solicitation - pg 4
- Uploading Supplemental Documents - pg 41
- Uploading a Signed Contract - pg 103
A Frequently Asked Questions document will be released shortly. Office hours are also available to support your work with contract shells.
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Revised Contact List
The OhioBuys Agency Contacts List has been revised to include all onboarded Agencies, Boards, and Commissions. Please review the contact list for your organization. If an update is needed, please send an email to ohiobuys@das.ohio.gov.
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SUPPLIER UPDATES
Supplier Status in OhioBuys
If talking to a supplier about their status in OhioBuys, please remind them to complete the following.
 In addition, users should provide their company's demographic information to aid the agencies with the information needed for the Controlling Board submissions and approvals. This can be completed in the Addition Information Tab.
2024 Supplier Webinars
OhioBuys supplier training webinars walk through how to take advantage of OhioBuys. See the webinar schedule below or on the Bidder & Supplier Webinars webpage.
TRAINING TIPS
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Opus Training Tool & Access
Epilogue Opus, the new OhioBuys training tool, is available to OhioBuys users. Users can now access the OhioBuys Opus training materials using their existing OH|ID login credentials (via single sign-on).
This should help you quickly access the training information you need.
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Existing Opus Users
Please access Opus through any of the following options:
- Direct Link: https://login.opuseps.com/
- Web Advisor (lightbulb): enter your email address to reach your OH|ID log-in box
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MyOhio App Store tile: OhioBuys Agency Training Resources
See more details on the Opus Information page on the OhioBuys website.
New Users
If you did not originally register an Opus account, you can access Opus without any registration steps, simply select the tile from the MyOhio App Store.
If you require additional assistance setting up your Opus account, please email OBM Contact Center (OBM.ContactCenter@obm.ohio.gov) or sign up for Opus Office Hours with the OhioBuys team.
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Training Calendar 2024-2025
OhioBuys ongoing training will be available virtually and on-site in 2025. Users can register for these sessions directly in OhioLearn. If your agency has a topic request for training or needs solicitation and/or contract training, please notify the project at: OPS.TrainingAcademy@das.ohio.gov.
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2024
 2025
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Office Hours
One of the resources available to assist your use of OhioBuys is the option to sign up for Office Hours. Users sign up for either 30 or 60-minute Office Hour sessions wherein a dedicated OhioBuys trainer can assist you with OhioBuys functionality.
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Office Hours have been expanded with slots available Monday - Thursday from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM, and 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM, pending availability.
We encourage you to take advantage of this resource as you acclimate to OhioBuys. To sign up for office hours, please follow the prompts on the Office Hours Booking page.
You will receive direct help on a specific transaction as you work through it!
These Office hours are available for your training-related questions (i.e., how to do something in OhioBuys). If your question(s) is regarding policy or system issues (e.g., why a purchase order is In Progress), users should submit a helpdesk ticket. In addition, anything that substantially involves R&Ps, OAKS, or OneSpan Sign will also need to go to the helpdesk. If you have not attended any OhioBuys training course, you will be redirected to training, and your office hours appointment will be canceled. Remember, if it's a question of "how," then office hours are the way to go. If it's a question of "why," it needs a helpdesk ticket.
SUPPORT
For log-in or system issues, please contact OBM Contact Center at 614-338-4781 or 1-877-644-6771 OR OBM.ContactCenter@obm.ohio.gov Remember to put “OhioBuys” in the subject line!
If you have questions about the project itself, please email: ohiobuys@das.ohio.gov.
Mike DeWine, Governor
Jon Husted, Lt. Governor
Kathleen C. Madden, Director
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