Revision Date: September 24, 2025
Contents
2. Check for Existing Supplier in the Yale Supplier Gateway
4. Inviting Supplier to Register
5. Supplier Registration Process
7. Supplier Proxy Registration
8. Finalizing Supplier Setup in Workday
9. Changes to Existing Supplier Information
10. Expedited Supplier Setups or Changes
11. Reactivation and Deactivation
1. Overview & Scope
This procedure supports Policy 3401 General Payment and outlines the steps for onboarding and managing Suppliers through the Yale Supplier Gateway (“Supplier Gateway”): a secure, Supplier-facing portal that streamlines the onboarding process through automated workflows and centralized management of Supplier interactions and inquiries. It applies to all Yale University departments, faculty, staff, and student employees involved in procuring goods or services from external entities (e.g., Suppliers, students, or individuals). (Note: It does not apply to payroll or student financial payments. For detailed guidance about registering an active Yale student as a Supplier in Workday, refer to Procedure 3401 PR.03: Disbursing Funds for Prizes, Awards, Stipends, and Fellowships.)
Suppliers cannot self-register and must be invited via a Yale employee or affiliate to begin the onboarding process. (Note: Yale employees must complete the Supplier Setup training course in Workday Learning to gain access to send Supplier registration invitations. Refer to the Supplier Setup Job Aid for a step-by-step guide on setting up new Suppliers.)
A Supplier proxy registration is permitted only when a Supplier is unable to complete the registration process independently and no alternative Supplier is available. This process ensures that all Suppliers are properly vetted and meet the necessary compliance, risk, and performance standards before and throughout their engagement with Yale.
| Role | Responsibility |
| Department Requestor | Initiates request to onboard a new Supplier. |
| Procurement Team | Verifies and approves Supplier documentation and submittals. |
| Supplier | Completes registration, submits all required documentation to Yale, and maintains up-to-date information. |
| “Yale Supplier Gateway” System | Provides a secure platform for Supplier onboarding, communication, and ensures that all information remains accurate and up to date. |
| Finance Support Center (“FSC”) | Validates banking changes via phone confirmation when automated validation through the Supplier Gateway is unsuccessful. |
| Research Integrity and Security Team | Reviews Suppliers flagged on government watchlists, and escalations related to restricted party screenings conducted by the Procurement team. |
2. Check for Existing Supplier in the Yale Supplier Gateway
Before proceeding with Supplier onboarding, the requestor is responsible for determining whether the Supplier is already registered in the Yale Supplier Gateway. This step is essential to prevent duplicate records, which can lead to processing errors and incorrect payments.
To check for an existing Supplier:
- Log in to the Yale Supplier Gateway.
- Navigate to the “All Suppliers” section.
- Perform a Simple Search using the Supplier’s company name.
Review the search results and take the appropriate action:
- If no match found: Proceed to the next section - New Supplier Invitation
- If similar name found, but not a duplicate: Proceed to the next section - New Supplier Invitation.
- If exact match found: Supplier already exists in the system. Do not invite the Supplier again. Proceed to Workday to create a requisition or submit a Supplier Invoice Request, as appropriate.
3. New Supplier Invitation
Before sending an invitation through the Yale Supplier Gateway, requestors must first confirm that there is appropriate business justification to onboard a new Supplier and that all necessary internal approvals have been obtained.
Next, gather the required information to complete the Supplier Invitation Form:
- Supplier Country
- Supplier’s Legal/Registered Name
- Primary Supplier Contact Information (First Name, Last Name, Email Address)
To collect the required information, requestors should use the Yale Email Template to contact the Supplier and attach the following two documents to the message:
- Form 3401 FR.10 Supplier Gateway – Contact Form: This form must be completed by the Supplier and returned to the requestor.
- Yale University Supplier Reference Guide: This guide provides helpful instructions and information to assist suppliers with the registration process.
While use of the Yale Email Template is encouraged for consistency, it is not required. It is necessary, however, for the communication to the Supplier to clearly convey the need to complete and return the form and include the reference guide to ensure a smooth registration process.
The requestor is responsible for obtaining the completed Form 3401 FR.10 Supplier Gateway – Contact Form from the Supplier before initiating the next step of the Supplier invitation process.
4. Inviting Supplier to Register
Once the completed Form 3401 FR.10 Supplier Gateway – Contact Form is received back from the Supplier and reviewed for accuracy and completeness, the requestor may proceed with sending an invitation through the Yale Supplier Gateway by following the steps below:
Steps to Invite a Supplier:
- Log in to the Yale Supplier Gateway.
- Select “Invite Supplier.”
- Complete all required fields marked with a red asterisk (*).
- Click Submit to send the invitation.
Requestors who wish to track a supplier’s progress after the invitation has been sent can do so by accessing the “My Suppliers” section within the portal.
Important:
If the system times out before the invitation is submitted, progress is automatically saved. Users can search for the saved invitation upon logging back in to resume.
If a supplier does not log in using the initial invite, after 21 days the supplier record will be deleted from the system. If you still require the supplier, you will need to send a new invitation
5. Supplier Registration Process
After the invitation is submitted via the Yale Supplier Gateway, the Supplier receives an email containing login credentials and step-by-step instructions to complete their registration.
As part of the registration process, the Supplier is required to provide the following information:
- Company contact information and tax identification details
- Banking information for payment processing
- Required documentation uploads, such as:
- IRS Forms (e.g., W-9, W-8BEN)
- Certificate of Insurance
- Applicable government or business certifications
It is the Supplier’s responsibility to complete the registration in full and submit all required documentation. Incomplete registrations will delay the onboarding process and payment eligibility.
Refer to Policy 3401 General Payment for detailed information on Yale’s payment terms options and key considerations.
6. Central Offices Review
Once the Supplier completes their registration, the Yale Supplier Gateway automatically routes the submission for internal review to the required Central Finance Offices. The system performs initial tax and banking validations and flags any entries that cannot be verified or require further review.
The Central Finance Offices review the submission to ensure completeness, accuracy, and compliance. Areas of review include, but are not limited to:
- Conflict of Interest disclosures
- Certificate of Insurance
- Contract payment terms
- Tax documentation
- Banking validation
- Restricted Parties Screening
If the submission is incomplete, inaccurate, or fails a compliance check, the Supplier is contacted via the Supplier Gateway to provide corrections or additional documentation. Internal follow-up procedures vary depending on the specific issue or flag raised.
Important: A Supplier may not be approved if the submission conflicts with Yale University policies or applicable laws.
7. Supplier Proxy Registration
A proxy registration is required when a Supplier is unable to complete the registration process and no alternative Supplier is available; making it necessary for the requestor to complete the registration on the Supplier’s behalf with an appropriate manager’s approval (e.g. Lead Administrator or Operations Manager).
Proxy Registration requires formal approval from a Lead Administrator or Operations Manager and may be used only under the following conditions:
- Supplier is unable to complete the registration themselves;
- No alternative Supplier is available; and
- Lead Administrator or Operations Manager approval (as applicable) has been attained.
How to Register a Supplier via Proxy:
- Use the Form 3401 FR.08 Supplier Gateway – Proxy Form to request the required information from the Supplier.
- Provide the Supplier with the Yale University Supplier Reference Guide to support their completion of the form.
- The Supplier completes, signs, and returns Form 3401 FR.08 Supplier Gateway – Proxy Form to the requestor.
Once the completed form is received, the requestor may proceed with Proxy Registration in the Yale Supplier Gateway:
Steps to complete Proxy Registration:
- Log into the Yale Supplier Gateway.
- Select “Create Supplier”
- Enter all required fields marked with a red asterisk (*), including:
- General business information
- Tax and banking details
- Address and primary contact information
- Click Submit to complete the registration.
Proxy Registration and standard Supplier Registration share similar validation and Central Finance Office review requirements, including compliance and documentation checks.
Note: When a Supplier completes the standard registration process directly, they are expected to fully maintain accurate and up-to-date information in the Yale Supplier Gateway. However, if a Supplier is unwilling or unable to register themselves, it may indicate that they are also unlikely to manage their own record in the future. In such cases, proxy registration may be appropriate at the discretion of the Requestor and approval of the Requestor’s manager, with the understanding that ongoing maintenance of the Supplier record remains the responsibility of the sponsoring department.
Important: The sponsoring department must promptly destroy all copies of the Proxy form containing sensitive Supplier information after the form has been successfully uploaded into the system, in accordance with Procedure 1609 PR.01 Disposal of Media Containing Confidential or Protected Health Information.
8. Finalizing Supplier Setup in Workday
Once the Supplier registration has been successfully reviewed and approved by Central Finance Offices, the Supplier’s information is integrated into Workday.
Key points to note:
- A confirmation email from Workday is automatically sent to both the Supplier and the requestor
- The registration process is considered complete only when the Supplier’s status is listed as “Active” in the Yale Supplier Gateway.
- Within approximately one hour of final approval, the Supplier will appear as active in the system and is then eligible for transactions such as requisitions or Invoice submissions
9. Changes to Existing Supplier Information
When updates to an existing Supplier’s information are needed, departments should first verify the Supplier’s registration type in the Yale Supplier Gateway.
If the registration type is “Supplier”:
Suppliers are responsible for maintaining and updating their Supplier Gateway account information as needed. This includes, but is not limited to, payment details, certificates of insurance, remittance addresses, and contact information.
Departments should ensure the Supplier is aware of this requirement and portal functionality and provide the Yale University Supplier Reference Guide as a helpful resource.
If the registration type is “Proxy”:
The originating department is responsible for maintaining and updating the proxy records. The Supplier must prompt the business to initiate any needed changes and may request to assume control of their account at any time. Ownership of a proxy record can be transferred to another designated individual within the department, in the event of personnel changes.
The sponsoring department that originally entered the Supplier information submits a new Form 3401 FR.08 Supplier Gateway – Proxy Form to capture any updates and manually update the system. Alternatively, the Supplier can be transitioned to self-managed registration by completing the following steps:
- The department should contact the Supplier and request they complete the Form 3401 FR.09 Supplier Gateway – Change Registration Type to Supplier Managed Form.
- The completed form must be submitted to the Supplier Compliance Unit (SCU) at: supplier.change@yale.edu.
- Once processed, the Supplier’s status is updated from “Proxy” to “Supplier”, allowing them to log in and make changes directly in the Yale Supplier Gateway.
For Suppliers who are established as “approved Suppliers” (e.g. Status of “Active”), utilizing the Supplier portal functionality ensures the greatest ease of doing business. The online portal allows Suppliers to manage company information
10. Expedited Supplier Setups or Changes
In exceptional cases, it may be appropriate to request expedited processing of a Supplier registration or change. To initiate an expedited request, the department must ensure that the Supplier has already submitted their registration or change request prior to submission.
To request expedited processing, the requestor must email askfinance@yale.edu and include the following details:
- Supplier name
- “Rush” clearly stated in the subject line
- Justification for expedited processing, including the potential impact to the University if the request is not expedited
- Supplier number (for change requests only)
The Supplier Compliance Unit (SCU) reviews the request and may contact the requestor for additional information or clarification. The requestor is notified of the outcome (e.g. approval or denial) and, if denied, the reason is provided. Approved requests are processed on an expedited basis.
Expedited requests are not considered unless the Supplier registration or change has already been submitted.
11. Reactivation and Deactivation
a) Requesting Supplier Reactivation
If a previously active Supplier is no longer available in the system and needs to be reactivated for business purposes, the requestor must follow these steps:
- Confirm Need for Reactivation:
Ensure there is a valid business reason for reactivating the Supplier, such as a pending payment, purchase order, or upcoming engagement. - Verify Supplier Status:
Before submitting a request, search the Supplier in the system to confirm the Supplier is inactive (and not terminated). If unsure, contact the Supplier Compliance Unit for assistance verifying status. - Submit Reactivation Request via Supplier Gateway.
- Wait for Confirmation:
Supplier Compliance reviews the request and confirms once the Supplier has been reactivated or if additional information is needed.
b) Requesting Supplier Deactivation
To remove a Supplier from active status (e.g., no longer doing business with Yale or has a duplicate record), the requestor must follow these steps:
- Confirm the Supplier Is No Longer Needed:
Review any open purchase orders, pending payments, or ongoing engagements. A Supplier should only be deactivated if it is no longer in use. - Submit Deactivation Request to via Supplier Gateway
Email Procurement with the subject line: “Supplier Deactivation Request – [Supplier Name]”. Include:- Supplier name and Yale Supplier ID
- Reason for deactivation
- Confirmation that there are no outstanding transactions
- Contact information for follow-up
- Procurement Review and Action:
The Supplier Compliance team validates the request, checks for any open items, and deactivates the Supplier, as appropriate. The requestor is notified once the deactivation is complete or if any follow-up is required.
Related Resources
Form 3401 FR.08 Supplier Gateway - Proxy Form
Form 3401 FR.09 Supplier Gateway – Change Registration Type to Supplier Managed Form
Form 3401 FR.10 Supplier Gateway – Contact Form
3205 FR.06 Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification (IRS Form W-9)
Supplier Gateway Reference Guide for Business Units