Like countless others, the University of Pittsburgh continues to experience unprecedented delays in the fulfillment of technology-related purchasing requests due to ongoing global supply chain issues. All indications are that issues caused by increased demand, scarcity of hardware components and labor shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic will continue at least into the second quarter of 2022.

Please be assured that Pitt Information Technology is working diligently with the University’s strategic vendor partners to source alternatives and expedite orders whenever possible.

We acknowledge that these issues impact the University’s day-to-day operations in a variety of ways—including limited availability when ordering new laptops, printers, and monitors. Orders placed for these devices may take several months to arrive. Significant delays are also affecting delivery of enterprise hardware components, including wireless access points and advanced network equipment for research computing.  

Pitt IT appreciates your understanding as we work to address these challenges. In the meantime, we encourage you to follow this guidance when ordering hardware: 

1. Continue to utilize the Computing Equipment Purchasing and Standardization Program for orders. In addition to significant cost savings, the program ensures your hardware is optimized for the University’s computing environment and compatible with enterprise device management. Pitt IT has worked closely with partner vendors to provide the shortest possible wait times for devices ordered through the program. We have also proactively ordered and have on hand a limited quantity of mainstream and power-user laptops. If your department has an urgent, immediate need for laptops, please contact the Technology Help Desk to check availability.
2. Do not purchase consumer-grade laptops from retail stores. Business-class laptops offer important security and configuration features that aren’t found in devices meant for consumers. In addition, consumer-grade PCs may not be compatible with Pitt IT’s device management services, which means they will not automatically receive important updates and security patches. Consumer laptops may also not be compatible with recommended monitors and docking solutions, and they often lack a warranty that allows them to be serviced if an issue occurs. Lastly, consumer devices may be running Windows 11, which has not yet been tested for compatibility with University services.  
3. Plan for future needs now. If you anticipate needing new hardware for your department in the near future, submit your orders as soon as possible. Adding your order to the vendor’s delivery queue now helps to reduce delivery time in the future. 

Thank you for your continued resilience during these challenging times. Pitt IT remains committed to providing the best possible IT environment for the University community, and we look forward to working with you to realize that goal. 

Please contact the Technology Help Desk if you have any additional concerns related to supply chain delays.