Announcement of an Exempt Purchase

This exemption is requested for the purchase of dental burs and bur blocks, which are essential clinical supplies used in direct patient care. Dental burs are precision instruments used for procedures such as caries removal, tooth preparation, and restoration finishing, while bur blocks are required for proper organization, transport, and sterilization in accordance with infection control protocols. These items are critical to clinical operations at the College of Dentistry at the University of Illinois Chicago and are not reasonably substitutable.

This purchase is exempt from the usual selection processes of the Procurement Code because the procurement expenditure is for medical supplies or medical services necessary for the delivery of care and treatment at medical, dental, or veterinary teaching facilities utilized by SIU or U of I (30 ILCS 500 / 1-13(b-5)) If this exemption is not approved, the College of Dentistry at University of Illinois Chicago may incur increased procurement costs and administrative burdens associated with delays or limitations in sourcing essential clinical supplies. Dental burs and bur blocks are routinely used in high volumes for direct patient care any disruption in their timely and cost-effective acquisition could lead to higher pricing, reduced operational efficiency, and potential interruptions in clinical services. This may ultimately result in increased costs to the University, reduced clinic productivity, and diminished patient care capacity, thereby negatively impacting both institutional finances and service delivery.