Fisher Scientific Q&A
2.7 - Online Ordering
 Functionality is noted as available through Fisher website, it this functionality also available
through the ecommerce portals?
Fisher Response: Market Makers vary with integration levels of support. Market Maker
institution’s specific set-up, or entry point as global user (s) or profile based, may also vary with
respect to functionality. Fisher is happy to clarify functionality based on market maker and or
entry method.

Quarterly Price File – indicates that a price file can be provided upon specific items – UI will need
complete file for review of all items available for purchase.
Fisher Response: Today, Fisher Scientific supports the U. Iowa per the attached listing of
products on a quarterly price file. Addition (s) and deletions shall be mutually agreed upon.

Technology Fee for UI eBuy – indicates mutually agreed upon time-frame – this fee is expected
as long as the supplier participates in eBuy.
Fisher Response: Fisher Scientific agrees to administer the UI eBuy Technology fee as a
supported supplier on the eCommerce platform. The frequency or administration of fee
payment shall be applied in a mutually agreed upon timeframe, e.g. Quarterly, Semi-annually,
and or annually.
2.7(n) Please confirm that a 1% technology fee is offered to any IBA member utilizing an online
procurement system (e.g. SciQuest)
Fisher Response: Fisher Scientific agrees to continue administering the 1% technology for the U.
Iowa. eBuy system. As discussed in the pre-bid meeting and follow-up, Addendum #2 the
technology fee was referenced as the U. Iowa eBuy Technology fee. Fisher Scientific is willing to
discuss additional member institutions on a case by case basis.
2.8 – Information Access
 Can the ecommerce site to show the manufacture list price and discounted price
Fisher Response: The Fisher website www.fishersci.com supports the Fisher published list price
and discounted price. Per the Fisher formal response, varying suppliers do not publish a list
price, Fisher may offer an alternative unit of measure and or deviate from suggested list
price. Please see complete excerpt below.
A significant portion of our product offering is made up of Fisher Scientific-labeled or Thermo
Scientific-manufactured products. Fisher Scientific determines the list prices of these products
based on an evaluation of competitive products in the market.
Fisher Scientific also offers a wide range of supplier-branded products. Many suppliers do not
provide suggested list prices; in these cases, Fisher Scientific determines the list prices based on
competitive levels in the market. For those suppliers that do provide suggested list prices, Fisher
Scientific utilizes these list prices for the majority of the volume of these products.
In some cases, Fisher Scientific deviates from manufacturer list prices based on handling and
distribution costs such as breaking case quantities down into smaller pack quantities to satisfy
customer requirements.

Can Fisher’s Fund Tracking system be implemented for an entire institution using flat files to
transfer information into Fisher’s system?
Fisher Response: The Fisher Fund Tracking system is created and monitored based on profile. If
a profile is available, the information can be loaded into the system to account for transactional
spend. Fisher is welcomes dialogue to better understand how to further utilize this tool with
interested member (s).
2.13 – Customer Service Requirements

$85,000-$96,000 for a full time on-site representative – is this charged to each entity?
Fisher Response: Fisher offer (s) one (1) dedicated customer service for utilization of the entire
IBA. Should any member desire an additional on-site representative, in addition to offer, each
member or entity shall incur an additional charge of $85,000 - $96,000 based on scope of work
and or level of engagement e.g. stockroom management. Fisher welcomes further discussion
with interested member institution to identify level of support and or engagement.
2.17 – Third Party Items
 Ability to provide CDC Codes within order details?
Fisher Response: Today, Fisher Scientific has the ability to pass CDC codes for Third Party
Products via summary billing and or invoice reports.

List price will be charged to IBA members
o Exception – if member has contract with supplier, Fisher can upload the
contract to ensure member receives discounted pricing?
Fisher Response: Yes. Part of our standard implementation is to document the
suppliers with whom you have discounted pricing, load that in our system, and
present it based on the user’s logon id so your users receive their contracted
price.
o
Does Fisher load the third party supplier’s full catalog?
Fisher Response: In many cases, yes. In others, we have loaded all of the items
our customers have purchased over the past 15 years. For example, American
Type Culture has over 90,000 items. However, they have advised us that 1,400
items make up over 90% of their sales. In this case, we’ve loaded the 1,400
items, and then dynamically create new items and load them to our website as
users request them. We believe this is an efficient and effective use of our
resources, and one of the many ways in which we streamline our costs to
provide you the most effective third party services in the marketplace.
o
How would pricing be reflected in ecommerce site?
Fisher Response: Pricing is reflected at IBA’s net price.

Incentives – third party items would only be included in volume rebates
o
Verify that the 1% technology fee for ecommerce site still applies?
Fisher Response: Today, the 1% Technology Fee for the U. Iowa eBuy system
does not include Third Party volume in administration of the fee. Fisher
Scientific offers to extend the same terms as currently administered.

Credits applied for third party items – how are credits applied?
Fisher Response: Each 3P item has a unique part number assigned, so track-able,
reportable, and repeatable – no “Misc” numbers. Credits can easily be applied against
the original transaction to the user’s cost center via an RGA, just as with franchise
products.

Does the supplier have the ability to upload a third party supplier’s full catalog?
Fisher Response: Yes, please see answer above.

What percentage of their third party suppliers do they have a full catalog uploaded? –
Fisher Response: We have over 755,000 3P items in our system. If there are specific
suppliers that IBA requests the full catalog, we will make all reasonable efforts to load
any items that are not currently offered. See example above re American Type
Culture.

Are there third party suppliers that the supplier has an “exclusive” partnership?
Fisher Response: No – if there is an exclusive relationship, that would indicate a
franchise relationship rather than a 3P relationship.

Please provide a detailed explanation on how the process works, when an entity has an
already established discount structure in place with a supplier (e.g. Perkin Elmer) and
wants have access to the contract through the supplier.
Fisher Response: As part of our standard implementation, we document with the
organization the list of suppliers with whom they have contract pricing. We request a
letter from IBA notifying the supplier that Fisher is your preferred channel, and to
provide the IBA pricing to Fisher (sample available upon request). We’ll work with the
IBA to follow-up as necessary to insure that all contract pricing is received. Once
received, we upload the pricing into our system based on the supplier part number and
the customer account number. When the user logs in to our website, or calls customer
service, their pricing is automatically accessed and applied to the order.
2.27 – Return Policy
 Restocking Fee – discretion of sales representative. How will this be determined?
Fisher Response: Fisher agrees to absorb any restocking fee (s), assessed to Fisher by Supplier,
for any item that is shipped in error by Fisher Scientific. Additionally, Fisher agrees to waive
restocking fee, if applicable, if a replacement product is ordered through Fisher. Fisher will work
with each customer on a case-by-case basis where a restocking fee is assessed, however, if an
item is a custom made-product, altered in any way, used, and or a the customer simply does not
want the product, Fisher will charge the restocking fee to member institution. An example is
below:
-86 Freezer: Customer orders a catalog item (s) from Fisher Scientific, adding an factory
authorized LN2 system. Customer receives product and elects to return product with no
replacement. Fisher shall administer restocking fee if charged by supplier.
2.35 – Discount Rebates
 Offering 3% incentive for Thermo Fisher products including third party items exceeding previous
year’s sales – please confirm this includes all sales under the IBA contract.
Fisher Response: Fisher offers a 3% incremental volume incentive for all sales year over year
(YOY). In addition to this volume incentive, as stated in 2.35 h. Fisher Scientific offers an
additional three percent (3%) incentive for incremental franchise sales of product
manufactured by a subsidiary of Thermo Fisher Scientific each contract year. The incentive shall
be provided annually in the form of a check with usage levels by participant for the IBA’s
administration.

$250,000 Primary Vendor Bonus:
o Exclusive supplier of lab products in eBuy (not acceptable to UI or ISU) - these ecommerce sites are designed to offer sales to the lowest cost provider.
Fisher Response: For further consideration, Fisher Scientific supports and understands
the need to have laboratory supplier (s) in addition to Fisher Scientific. Fisher is
requesting that should additional supplier (s) be supported on the eCommerce platform,
products that are exact matches not be available through any supplier other than Fisher
Scientific. Fisher is not requesting the removal and or limitation of adding a supplier
catalog. Fisher is not requesting the end-user to use a different product than otherwise
specific, only Fisher as a channel provider.
For example: A Corning beaker, a product available through many channel or distributor
partners, shall be available for order on the eCommerce platform exclusively through
Fisher Scientific.
o
Exclusive sole supplier for manufacturer rebates (e.g. Corning) – please elaborate on
how this would work.
Fisher Response: Authorized IBA signatory shall notify / indicate Fisher Scientific as the
sole channel and or distributor for Corning “C” contract, BD Labware “Z” contract, and
or additional manufacturer rebates negotiated by the IBA. All other channel providers
for said manufacturer will not have access to negotiated IBA pricing.
o
Right of First Refusal for all orders, non-sealed bids, where FS can supply exact and/or
equivalent products (not acceptable to UI or ISU) - because Members utilize several
methods of ordering, cannot agree to Right of First refusal.
Fisher Response: For further consideration, Fisher will customize solution (s) with
member institution to identify opportunities to consolidate spend, optimize volume
incentives and or provide a lower cost alternative for laboratory spend.
o
Preferred status in stock room – please elaborate on what this would entail.
Fisher Response: In a stockroom / storeroom environment, Fisher will provide stock to
entity for product that are available as franchise products though Fisher
Scientific. Fisher is not suggesting that customer use a different product and or brand.
For example: Corning beaker, a product available through many channel or distributor
partners, shall be available for order in the stockroom exclusively through Fisher
Scientific.
o
Thirty day written notification of supplier additional to e-commerce platform (not
acceptable to UI or ISU) - these sites are public and vendors can be identified at the time
they become active.
Fisher Response: For further consideration, Fisher requests the notification of supplier
addition (s) to an eCommerce platform to facilitate dialogue in the interest of
consolidation of spend opportunities, avoidance of catalog duplication, and or cost
savings.
o
Semi-annual review of non-Fisher spend to identify additional revenue – please explain
how this would work.
Fisher Response: Fisher and member institution shall review laboratory research spend
on a semi-annual basis to identify consolidation of spend and cost saving opportunities
by vendor and or line-by-line data, if available. The engagement serves to dynamically
optimize incentive structures, increase operational efficiency and further consolidate
spend to gain additional discounts with manufacturers.
o
Can technology fee and prompt payment discount be credited at the time of
order? Some members would prefer these to be instant credits or taken off the price of
the item at the time of order rather than rebate later.
Fisher Response: Fisher prefer (s) to administer fee (s) including the technology fee and
or prompt payment through invoice rather than short pay to minimize administrative
costs by reduction or avoidance of variance (s) due to return (s) / replacement (s), and
or qualification of said incentive in the cash application / reconciliation process.
3.1 – Pricing
 Not acceptable to use Fisher published list pricing, will only use manufacturers published list
price. Please address this issue.
Fisher Response: In addition to those instance (s) of list price availability stated above,
the accuracy and ability to validate an auditable administration of a contract is strongly
encouraged through the use of Fisher published list price. The ability to audit on the
Fisher website www.fishersci.com at point of sale (POS) and or formal internal audit is
best performed using the Fisher published list price as a single point of reference.
3.2 Core Pricing Spreadsheet clarification: Please update your original Core Pricing List to include the
following columns. Note: Do not change any of the pricing that was initially submitted. These
additional columns should be added to the right of the original information submitted, do not
reorganize the spreadsheet.







Manufacturer
Supplier
Manufacturer Part Number
Vendor Part number
Item description
Quantity per Standard Unit
Current IBA Pricing (if applicable)
Fisher Response: Please see the attached.
3.4 – Category Pricing cont.
 Please provide listing of all items within catalog to show category by item number.
Fisher Response: Fisher Scientific supports over one million (1,000,000) franchise catalog number
(s) in the categories 1 – 163. Due to size of the file, and scope of work, the file will be mailed to your
attention. Fisher will provide a tracking number once available. Fisher is tenaciously reviewing the
file for accuracy and submission. We will have an estimated delivery date by COB Friday, March
16th, 2012.
3.4 Category Pricing for items inadvertently omitted in RFP: Please send Category Pricing discounts as
per Section 3.4 for the following categories, note that each of the items are preceded by an asterisk and
will therefore be weighted more heavily than non-marked categories:
*164. Chemicals—Acids (all grades unless otherwise exempted)
Vendor’s Brand: Thermo Scientific - Fisher Chemical
Mfg. by:Thermo Scientific - Fisher Chemical
ACS / Certified
69.0%
GC Resolve
62.0%
Histological / Lab grade
79.0%
HPLC
62.0%
Optima
62.0%
Pesticide
65.0%
Technical / Spectroanaylzed / Electronic
62.0%
Tracemetal
79.0%
Grade unspecified
71.0%
Vendor’s Brand: Acros
10.0%
Mfg. by:Thermo Scientific
*165. Chemicals—Biotech Grade
Vendor’s Brand: Thermo Scientific - Fisher Chemical
Mfg. by:Thermo Scientific - Fisher Chemical
Fisher Offers our Bioreagent grade, also represented in Category 8
Thermo Scientific - Fairlawn (Fisher Chemical Bioreagents Grade)
Salts, Sugars, Buffers
47.5%
*166. Chemicals—Bulk ( 20L container or larger 20 KG or more in weight)
Vendor’s Brand: Thermo Scientific - Fisher Chemical
Mfg. by:Thermo Scientific - Fisher Chemical
ACS / Certified
69.0%
GC Resolve
62.0%
Histological / Lab grade
79.0%
HPLC
62.0%
Optima
62.0%
Pesticide
65.0%
Technical / Spectroanaylzed / Electronic
62.0%
Tracemetal
79.0%
Grade unspecified
71.0%
Vendor’s Brand: Acros
10.0%
Mfg. by:Thermo Scientific
*167. Chemicals - Specialty Grades (HPLC, Mass Spec, Electronic and
Technical)
Vendor’s Brand: Thermo Scientific - Fisher Chemical
Mfg. by:Thermo Scientific - Fisher Chemical
ACS / Certified
69.0%
GC Resolve
62.0%
Histological / Lab grade
79.0%
HPLC
62.0%
Optima
62.0%
Pesticide
65.0%
Technical / Spectroanaylzed / Electronic
62.0%
Tracemetal
79.0%
Grade unspecified
71.0%
Vendor’s Brand: Acros
10.0%
Mfg. by:Thermo Scientific
*168. Chemicals - Organic Solvents
Vendor’s Brand: Thermo Scientific - Fisher Chemical
Mfg. by:Thermo Scientific - Fisher Chemical
ACS / Certified
69.0%
GC Resolve
62.0%
Histological / Lab grade
79.0%
HPLC
62.0%
Optima
62.0%
Pesticide
65.0%
Technical / Spectroanaylzed / Electronic
62.0%
Tracemetal
79.0%
Grade unspecified
71.0%
Vendor’s Brand: Acros
Mfg. by:Thermo Scientific
10.0%