Risk Management-Contract Review
Contracts, especially those prepared and submitted to the
university by outside entities, often contain legal language and
stipulations (such as indemnification statements, coverage limit
requirements, and legal jurisdiction statements) to which the State
of Virginia cannot legally agree to. Thus, NO JMU
department is authorized to approve, enter into, or
otherwise execute a contractual obligation or agreement on behalf
of the university. Any contracts or potential contractual
agreements must be reviewed, approved and executed by the proper
university (and possible state) official. All contracts entered
into by the university must go through at least one of several
possible channels, depending upon the type of contract or
agreement, before they can be signed and executed.
- Goods and Services If the
contract is for goods or services provided to the university, the
contact must initially be reviewed and approved by University
Procurement to ensure the agreement abides by all
State Procurement guidelines.
If it is determined that a contract for goods or
services does not, for whatever reason, require approval by
University
Procurement, it must then be reviewed by the Risk
Management office and forwarded for final approval by the
AVP for
Finance.
- Real Property/Real Estate If
a university department wishes to lease real property such as
office/lab/classroom space, warehouse space, storage units, or any
other off-campus real estate, the department must contact the
university's Real Property
Administrator, Jenny Lyons, lyonsvb@jmu.edu. The Real Property
Administrator will make arrangements for a new lease to be created
by the State Bureau of Real Property Management polices and
guidelines. University departments cannot, according to
state law, either initiate or enter into a contract or lease for
Real Property without going through the state lease
procedures.
NOTE: The University's Real Property
Administrator must handle and initiate all purchases of real
estate/real property for the university as well as real property
leases/contracts.
- Internships/Affiliation
Agreements If a university department wishes to enter into
a contractual agreement involving a cooperative effort between the
university and another institution, organization or company, the
contract must be first reviewed by the Risk Management office and
then forwarded to the AVP for Finance
for final approval, signature and execution.
- Grants Grant related
contracts are initiated and reviewed by the Sponsored Programs
Office and executed by the AVP for
Finance.
For more information regarding contracts, contact Mack
Moore, Risk Management Coordinator at 540.568.7812 or mooremg@jmu.edu.
