When a supplier contract is required for a specific transaction, Procurement Services works with the ordering department and supplier to reach agreement on all terms and conditions. In certain cases, Procurement Services will consult with partner organizations such as the Office of the General Counsel and Office of Risk Management.
For the simplest contracts that do not require negotiation, Procurement Services will typically be completed and executed within 3 business days. For more complex contracts or those that require extensive negotiation, Procurement Services will work with the ordering department to manage timing expectations.
Unless authority has been granted to an individual by the Trustees, only Procurement Services has the authority to enter into a purchase agreement or otherwise obligate the University. In all cases, agreements are to be signed by an authorized Procurement Services staff member in advance of any commitment to purchase to a supplier. Individuals signing purchase agreements on behalf of the University violate policy and increase their own risk of liability on the agreements themselves.