UTSA has experienced a history of payment issues related to gas cylinder rentals. In an effort to improve billing and prompt payment processes, the HUB vendor, Cuevas Distribution, Inc., recommended a “blended” price concept where the cylinder price included charges for the gas and cylinder rentals upfront. This concept would remove all future monthly cylinder rental charges and reduce UTSA’s outstanding rental charges owed to Cuevas.

The “blended” price concept was based on an average amount of time UTSA cylinders were rented combined with the cost of the gas. End-users who typically keep cylinders longer would benefit; end-users whose cylinders turned over more frequently resulted in a higher cost than what they normally experienced over the life of the cylinders remaining on campus.

Once the blended price concept was implemented, UTSA Purchasing received several requests to go back to the historic pricing model. Due to the business cost, Cuevas Distribution, Inc., incurred with continued monthly rental billing, Cuevas required adoption of the pricing model and declined to renew the existing agreement, which expires August 31.

Orders that involve gas cylinders will now be placed directly using your existing Airgas.com login information. The ordering process remains the same with the exception of the vendor you are ordering from. You will continue to place your order online through Airgas.com using the PO number you generate from Rowdy Exchange.

If you do not have an Airgas.com login or have forgotten your login information, please email ebusinessgulfcoast@airgas.com. 

Additional information on the process of gas cylinder rentals will be sent out within the next few weeks. Contact your procurement specialist at ext. 4060 if you have questions.

John Clifford, PhD CTPM

Director of Purchasing and Distribution Services