Procurement of Goods, Supplies & Services
Date of Current Revision: July 2007
Responsible Officer: Associate Vice President for Business Services
- PURPOSE
This policy prescribes regulations for the procurement of goods, supplies and services. The policy is designed to comply with State regulations.
- AUTHORITY
State regulations give the Associate Vice President for Business Services the authority to enforce this policy.
- DEFINITIONS
Term Contracts:
The Commonwealth and the university award term contracts for the procurement of certain goods, supplies and services to obtain more favorable prices through volume purchasing and to reduce procurement lead-time and administrative effort. Items available on term contracts must be procured from the contracted vendor in accordance with provisions of the contract. Another vendor may not be used.
Contract Approval:
Authority to sign contracts for James Madison University is delegated to the Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance, the Associate Vice President for Business Services, and the Director of Procurement Services; each may further delegate that authority in writing as appropriate. A list of such delegations and the dollar limit of authority shall be maintained in the office of Procurement Services. Such delegations shall include the training needed to assure compliance with applicable laws and regulations and to uphold the integrity of the university.
Emergency Procurement:
All persons involved in the procurement process shall effect proper planning so as to obtain the quantity, quality, and timeliness of delivery of procurement at the least cost to the university. Emergency procurement procedures shall be implemented only to protect personal safety or property, not to compensate for improper planning.
- APPLICABILITY
These regulations apply to all procurement for the University by faculty, staff, students and administrators, regardless of the source of funds, including procurement charged to educational and general, auxiliary enterprise, grant and local fund accounts.
- POLICY
All procurement of goods and services must be made according to applicable state laws, regulations, policies and procedures as well as guidelines established by the Director of Procurement Services. All procurement will be made in a fair and ethical manner without impropriety or the appearance of impropriety.
- PROCEDURES
Procurement procedures, including instructions for completing forms, are provided at the Procurement Services Website.
Cancellation of Contracts and Purchase Orders
Contracts and purchase orders issued by the Office of Procurement Services may only be changed or canceled by that office. Requests for needed changes or cancellation are to be submitted to the Office of Procurement Services for issuance of a formal change order. Communication of needed changes or cancellations to vendors by other departmental personnel is not authorized.
- RESPONSIBILITIES
Purchasers are expected to exercise prudent judgment and their actions must sustain the test of public review.
Persons who issue contracts/purchase orders are responsible to assure the contractor's total performance is in accordance with the contractual agreement. Problems, including over shipments and overruns, complaints and non-compliance with contractual provisions, are to be resolved by the issuing authority. Persons who receive delivery of goods, supplies and services are responsible for the prompt inspection for shipping damage or shortages, and completion of a receiving report when required (see Financial Procedures Manual section 4205.400) . Prompt reporting of unresolved problems to the Office of Procurement Services is essential for the University to avail itself of legal remedies.
The Director of Procurement Services is the University's chief procurement agent and contracting officer and shall administer the university procurement program by recommending policy, and developing, publishing and enforcing appropriate procedures; delegating procurement authority to departments as appropriate; comparing requisitions for purchase with reasonable standards; reviewing the procurement delegation and activity/records of departments for legality and compliance with this policy.
- SANCTIONS
Sanctions will be commensurate with the severity and/or frequency of the offense and may include termination of employment. - EXCLUSIONS
Requests for exception to this policy are to be submitted in advance of procurement to the Director of Procurement Services for consideration.
- INTERPRETATION
Authority to interpret this policy rests with the President, and is generally delegated to the Associate Vice President for Business Services.
Previous version: June 2005
Approved by the President: April 2002
Index Terms
Procurement
Purchasing