Chemical Management Services (CMS)

Frequently Asked Questions

• What do you mean by chemical?
  
  

  For the first phase of the CMS project, the term "chemical" includes: Solvents, Paints and Coatings, Adhesives and Epoxies, Process Chemicals, Laboratory Chemicals, Cryogens, Bulk Gases, Compressed Gases, Mineral Oil, Maintenance Chemicals(Oils, Lubricants, Freons, etc.), Pesticides, Solders, Fuels, Abrasive Grit, Sandblast media, Welding Rod
  
  The following materials are excluded from the scope of the CMS project: Raw metals such as aluminum, copper, stainless steel, lead and metallic alloys (Invar, etc.), Radioactive materials, User samples
  
  NOTE: some material not currently included in the project scope may still have hazardous properties. The user/requester is responsible to know what the hazards are. Please contact ESH if you have chemical safety questions.

• Are there any exemptions for office supplies?
  
  

  Office supplies (pens, markers, toner, glue sticks, white out, white board and glass cleaners...) used in non-industrial applications and purchased in consumer-scale packaging and in quantities not greater than those purchased by the average consumer, can be purchased outside the Haas TCM system. For example; a bottle of glass cleaner purchased by someone to clean their computer screen or office window would be exempt. The same product purchased by the janitorial staff in order to fulfill their job function would need to be purchased through Haas TCM.

• Why is SLAC implementing CMS?
  
  

  The primary driver behind the CMS project is that new environmental regulations in the early 2000s required that facilities of SLAC’s size and emissions report annually on their facility-wide chemical usage.
  
  SLAC cannot prepare such reports using its current business systems.

• What does SLAC expect to achieve with the move to CMS?
  
  

  

• Will SLAC really save any money?
  
  

  Money is spent on chemicals in many different ways:
  
  

  • The costs of the chemicals themselves (material costs)
  • Shipping costs
  • "Hidden" fees (fuel surcharges, electricity surcharges, etc.)
  • ESH Inventory costs
  • ESH Usage Reporting costs
  • Equipment to safely manage the chemicals and protect employees
  • Waste management
  • Environmental remediation
  
  
  The CMS contract guarantees SLAC at least a 5% reduction in its facility-wide material costs, when indexed against the Producer Price Index for Chemicals and Allied Products. SLAC expects to experience dramatic productivity gains in its preparation of ESH Inventory and Usage Reports.
  
  

• Will ESH and BSD still be reviewing every chemical purchase?
  
  

  No. Neither will be required ¹.
  
  Staff authorized to purchase chemicals will be identified by the managers of each department that uses chemicals. The review process will be limited to direct supervisors and divisional financial planners. The review process will be entirely online and traceable.
  
  (¹ If a single transaction exceeds $10,000, Budget Office approval will be required.)

• How do I find out about the status of my order?
  
  

  The tcmIS Order Tracking page allows you to search for your orders (open, delivered, or otherwise) and find out their status. The tracking page also allows you to review your original material request. To cancel an order, go the Order Tracking page and highlight the order in questions then click on the Material Request Detail button. The Material Request will have a Cancellation button. The request to cancel will either be accepted or denied depending on whether the purchase order has been confirmed. Your Customer Service Representative can help you with any questions.

• How can I obtain chemical usage reports or ESH reports?
  
  

  Usage reports and environmental reports are available on the tcmIS Reporting page. The Help menu will walk you through the types of reports and how to generate them. In general the reports will be created in spreadsheet format in Excel. There are formatted reports, which allow you to select standard usage or regulatory formats. You will also have the ability to create your own report formats using the ad hoc reporting feature.
  
  You can contact your Customer Service Representative or local Haas TCM Hub manager to request training on formatted or ad hoc report features.

• What if my chemical forecasts change?
  
  

  Haas TCM welcomes your input on your chemical needs. Any information you can share with us regarding future program needs will greatly help our ability to serve your chemical needs in a timely manner. Please e-mail or provide hard copy of your forecasts to your Haas TCM Customer Service Representative or Hub manager.
  
  Forecasts are contractually good for 6 months from the date of the communication. After that time, Haas TCM will adjust the MinMax quantities in our Hub based on your historical usage rates, unless you inform us otherwise. You may also specify the period of time you would like the forecast to be effective.

• How do I receive tcmIS training?
  
  

  Contact your Customer Service Representative to arrange training for tcmIS.
  
  Basic help is located by clicking on the Help menu in tcmIS. It covers the basics for placing orders, research and reporting capabilities as well as hazardous waste processes and procedures.

• How can I contact Haas TCM or SLAC system users?
  
  

  Your first contact for tcmIS is your Customer Service Representative. You can lookup contacts e-mail addresses and phone numbers on the tcmIS User Profile page if you know their name.

• How can I get technical assistance?
  
  

  Contact your local Customer Service Representative.
  
  Contact your local Haas TCM Hub manager