Frequently Asked Questions

The generic evaluation criteria can be found in the Supplier Recognition Guidebook. Each evaluation criterion will have its own measurement based on the type of agreement category.

OECM will provide suppliers a survey link to be shared with customers at least once a year on active customers (with spend). OECM suggests sending the survey to customers every quarter or upon completion of a project. These results will be used to calculate the Net Promotor Score (NPS) used for the customer feedback evaluation criterion. OECM will also work closely with customers and suppliers to obtain customer feedback through feedback mechanisms such as business review meetings, workshops, a community of practice (as applicable), surveys, and other communication avenues. After each customer engagement, OECM will request a Net Promoter Score. Customers are also encouraged to reach out to OECM directly to share data and information on supplier performance.

OECM conducts supplier partner consultations, and in the planning stage of each RFP, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are discussed together with supplier partners to determine what industry standards and customer expectations are. KPIs are finalized in the negotiation stages of each Master Agreement and stipulated in each supplier partner’s executed Master Agreement.

Agreement growth efforts that compare the current evaluation period spend against previous evaluation period spend is one of the program’s evaluation criteria. It is out of 5 points to recognize our supplier partners’ efforts in promoting our partnership and growing the agreement.

OECM will establish a savings methodology for each agreement category. However, please note that savings methodologies and their measurements will vary depending on the nature of the agreement category and products and/or services being provided under each agreement category.

Yes, surveys (Net Promoter Score, NPS) are a customer feedback mechanism that OECM will use to evaluate customer feedback evaluation criterion. These will be gathered directly via the customer and indirectly via the supplier from the customer.

Supplier partners with no CSA and no spend by the end of the Supplier Recognition Program (SRP) evaluation period (December 31) cannot be evaluated for the applicable program as there is not sufficient data to conduct the evaluation.

A copy of the Supplier Recognition Guidebook will be emailed to you by your Supplier Relationship Management team. If you do not have a copy of the guidebook, please reach out to your designated Supplier Relationship Manager.

OECM’s Supplier Relationship Management team will be happy to answer all supplier partner questions and provide support.

Any supplier partner with an agreement awarded after June 1, 2019 is automatically enrolled in the program. For any other supplier partner with an agreement awarded prior to this date, the deadline to confirm your participation in the 2023 SRP is on March 24, 2023. Please contact your Supplier Relationship Management Team if you missed the deadline.

Supplier partners whose agreements are valid in the SRP evaluation period are eligible to participate in each year’s SRP. For instance, a supplier partner with an agreement awarded prior to January 1, 2024, and expires after December 31, 2022 is eligible to participate in the 2023 SRP.

For supplier partners with agreements awarded prior to June 2019, OECM must obtain consent from them every year as participation is optional. There is no SRP language stipulated in their Master Agreements. Any other supplier partner with agreements awarded after June 2019 is automatically enrolled in the program.

Regardless of the extension period, supplier partners with agreements awarded prior to June 2019 will need to provide their consent to participate in the Supplier Recognition Program (SRP) every year as the program resumes annually.

The numeric value of supplier partner scores will not be disclosed to customers. However, the rankings (i.e., Platinum, Gold, Silver) will be.

Yes, supplier partners can use their awarded Recognition Level on their marketing material but are requested to work with OECM to ensure proper use.

OECM will meet with supplier partners who score below 70 and work to build a performance improvement plan that increases supplier partner performance and provides greater value for customers.

The 2023 Supplier Recognition Program (SRP) recognition levels will be valid until March 31, 2025.

Yes, recognition levels from the 2021 Supplier Recognition Program (SRP) will be available on our website until the 2022 SRP results are announced in April 2023.

Yes, OECM will share NPS and qualitative responses received from customers and suppliers with our supplier partners. However, OECM will only share the names of the customer organizations if customers have provided their consent to share such information.

Customers should not prefer supplier partners with recognition levels over supplier partners without recognition levels. The Supplier Recognition Program (SRP) aims to drive long-term performance improvements by recognizing and motivating supplier partners to deliver continued savings, value, choice, and service to our customers. The recognition levels on the OECM website are from the 2021 SRP, and supplier partners without recognition levels may indicate that they did not participate in the program.

Depending on recognition level, awarded supplier partners will be referenced on OECM Marketplace, be mentioned in OECM marketing materials, and have more promotional outreach opportunities through the OECM website. Furthermore, awarded supplier partners will receive an OECM letter of recognition and custom plaque recognition depending on their recognition levels. Specific benefits depending on recognition level can be found in the guidebook.