PURCHASING
Purchasing Policy Effective July 1, 2006
Individual departments at the University have been given a greater role in the purchasing process. This policy allows the department to solicit bids and determine an appropriate vendor if the amount of the total order is less than $25,000.00. The previous amount threshold was anything less than $10,000.00. For the following total size of order amounts, the given policies will apply. All forms required are located in the Purchasing folder located in the Forms folder on the server for both Plant Pathology and Agronomy/Horticulture.
Less than $5,000.00- No bids are required and the purchase can be made with a purchasing card (given that the purchase is allowable under purchasing card guidelines).
$5,000.00-$24,999.00- This is where the new policy change takes effect. At this increment, the department is able to acquire bids/quotes from vendors and make the decision based on those quotes. Once the vendor is determined the Business Center will prepare the purchase order to procure the item(s). During the request for bids, it is important to give identical written specifications to each vendor involved in the bid process. Also make sure that brand names aren’t one of the specifications. At least two quotes should be requested, three is the number recommended by UNL Purchasing. The Business Center staff and the UNL Purchasing team are ready to assist with any of these processes and answer any questions.
If the vendor is the sole-source of a particular item, please complete a sole-source purchase form available on the Staff and Plant Pathology servers. This will justify our action in not obtaining multiple bids/quotes.
The HAPPI Business Center will keep any requests for a purchase, the purchase order, copy of invoices, bids/quotes, and sole-source forms in 279 PS. This information is available to the public so we should be abiding by our purchasing process to avoid any liability that may stem from a vendor that feels slighted.
Certificate of Insurance form-Any vendor/contractor/supplier that comes on campus must provide the University with a Certificate of Insurance form that states at least $1,000,000.00 in general liability coverage. The University of Nebraska Board of Regents must be named as an additional insured on the Certificate of Insurance form. These forms are sent to the UNL Purchasing Department. Purchasing has several certificates from vendors already, to see if a vendor has submitted a form go to:
http://scsapps/vendinsurance/vendorinsurance.asp.
For purchases above $25,000.00 the purchasing department will be involved and will help with the informal bid process. For purchases over $75,000 a formal bidding period is required with sealed bids publicly read after a specific duration has occurred. Purchases of $400,000.00 require approval by the Board of Regents during their meeting.
Links:
Vendors online:
- Office Depot
- Scientific supplies and equipment less than $5,000 per unit:
Vendors not online (use your credit card):
Nogg/Chemical
Phone: 402/466-4555 FAX:402/466-5777
Cresent Electric
Phone: 402/476-2712 FAX: 402/476-2718
Voss Lighting
Phone: 402/421-6449 FAX: 402/421-6435
Orr Safety Corporation
Phone: 800/669-1677 FAX: 800/800-6774
Midland Scientific
Phone: 800/642-5263 FAX: 402/346-7694
Personnel available to assist you with purchasing questions:
Ben Lennander 472-1522
Eugene Hogan 472-6238
Susan Thomas 472-8617
Diane Sullivan 472-6077
Additional information is available from UNL Accounting
