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| EWU Policy 204-07 | Authority: EWU Board of Trustees |
| Effective: May 19, 2023 | Proponent: Vice President for Business & Finance |
Purpose: This policy prescribes university standards and regulations for purchasing, contracts, agreements, and surplus of items at the University.
History: This policy replaces a previous version of the policy dated December 6, 2019. It was approved by the Board of Trustees on May 19, 2023. The delegation of authority appendix was last updated on September 4, 2024.
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Authority
Eastern Washington University’s process for purchasing goods and services is governed by Washington State laws, Uniform Guidance, and the regulations of the Department of Enterprise Services (DES). The university has purchase and contract authority independent of DES pursuant to RCW 28B.10.029.
The Vice President for Business and Finance and the Chief Financial Officer have the ultimate authority to enter into contracts on behalf of the university and purchase goods and services. The Vice President and Chief Financial Officer may delegate purchasing and contract authority to certain personnel. Such delegation must be in writing. No university employee is permitted to sign a contract or make a purchase on behalf of the university unless authorized to do so under the terms of this policy or in a written delegation of authority. A current list of positions who have delegated authority to contract and purchase on behalf of the university is contained in Appendix A. Failure to follow university procedures and this policy may result in restrictions on future purchasing activities, non-reimbursement for a purchase, and/or discipline.
1.2 Definitions
“Public work” means all work, construction, alteration, repair, or improvement other than ordinary maintenance, executed at the cost of the university, or which is by law, a lien or charge against the university’s property.
2. PURCHASING
2.1 Procurement Laws- Competitive Solicitation
All purchases of goods, services, and public works must be made in accordance with the state procurement laws and, when applicable, federal law. DES requires all employees who make purchases on the university’s behalf to successfully complete State Procurement and Ethics training.
As set forth in the applicable state laws (chapter 39.04 for public works and chapter 39.26 for goods and services), all purchases must be based on a competitive solicitation process unless specifically exempted by law and approved by Procurement & Contracts.
2.2 Procurement & Public Works Goals- Diversity
- The university values diversity in its procurement processes and strives to increase opportunities for small, diverse, and and veteran-owned businesses. The university will take action to remove unnecessary barriers that prevent small, diverse, and veteran-owned businesses from receiving equitable access to the procurement of goods and services for the university.
- The university shall develop a plan to afford maximum practicable opportunity for small, diverse, and veteran owned- businesses to directly and meaningfully participate in the execution of university contracts for public works, goods, and services. This plan will include, at a minimum:
• Outreach to small, diverse, and veteran-owned businesses;
• Inviting small, diverse, and/or veteran owned businesses to provide quotations for goods and services when the university knows the business offers such services;
• Removing barriers from solicitation/contract language, where appropriate, to encourage the participation of small, diverse, and/or veteran owned businesses;
• Increasing transparency by publicly posting bids and bid award documents for each formal solicitation. - The Director of Procurement and Contracts or designee shall be responsible for preparing an annual Office of Minority & Women’s Business Enterprises (OMWBE) spend report in accordance with OMWBE guidIines.
- The Associate Vice President for Facilities and/or designees shall be responsible for tracking and preparing all state reports related to public works.
- All university personnel who are responsible for procurement activities must complete a mandatory supplier diversity training provided by DES.
2.3 Purchasing Procedures
Procedures for purchasing and guides on the purchasing process are available on the university’s website for Procurement & Contracts athttps://inside.ewu.edu/procurement/. Failure to follow university procedures may result in restrictions on future purchasing activities and/or discipline.
3. CONTRACTS & AGREEMENTS
3.1 Service Contracts
a. When permitted: when specialized skills, knowledge, resources, and experience are needed which cannot be provided reasonably by existing university employees, such services may be obtained from firms or individuals outside the university on a fee for service or contract basis. All requests for outside services contracts, regardless of sources of funding, must be reviewed and approved by the Director of Procurement & Contracts and/or Associate Vice President for Facilities.The university will only enter into a service contract with an individual or firm when the individual or firm is determined to be an independent contractor or excluded from state and federal definitions of an employee. If an individual does not meet the standards to qualify as an independent contractor, a department may work with Human Resources to see if the individual may be hired as a temporary employee.
b. Contracting out: if the type of work involved in a services contract includes work typically performed by an employee within a bargaining unit, the department must consult with the Labor Relations Manager to ascertain whether or not there are labor restrictions on contracting out such work.
3.2 Data Sharing Agreements
All agreements to share “protected data” with an outside person or entity must be reviewed and approved by the individual identified in Appendix A. “Protected data” includes, but is not limited to: education records covered by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, social security numbers, driver’s license numbers, bank account numbers, debit or credit card numbers, security codes, birth dates, home addresses, protected health information, and medical or mental health records. Consistent with RCW 39.26.340, a data sharing agreement is required any time EWU is sharing Category 3 or 4- level data (as defined by the Washington Office of the Chief Information Officer) with an outside contractor.
3.3 Information Technology, Software, and Cloud-Based Software
Any information technology, software or software-as-a-service agreement (i.e. cloud-based services), including ‘scroll and click’ software, subscription, and licence agreements, must be reviewed and approved by Information Technology regardless of whether there is a cost associated with it. Software or software-as-a-service cannot be purchased on a p-card or purchase order unless approved in advance by the Chief Information Officer and Director of Procurement & Contracts. In addition, the procurement of such technology and services must comply with EWU Policy 203-05 (Accessible Technology).
3.4 Non-Disclosure Agreements
There are many situations when an employee may be asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement. Any non-disclosure agreement pertaining to an employee’s work at the university or information stored at the university must be reviewed by the Provost’s Office or Procurement and Contracts. When the university is asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement, such agreements can only be signed by someone with delegated authority as set forth in Appendix A.
3.5 Construction
Construction contracts are handled exclusively through the Associate Vice President for Facilities and/or designee. Any requests for construction must be directed to the facilities team.
3.6 Grant-Related Purchases
Any purchase related to or funded by a federal grant must comply with the Federal Uniform Guidance procurement and contracting requirements, and any other applicable federal laws, and be reviewed by the Grants Office.
3.7 Intellectual Property/Technology Transfer
Agreements wherein the university seeks to transfer intellectual property or technology developments to an outside person or entity must be coordinated through the Provost’s Office.
3.8 Affiliation Agreements, Memoranda of Understanding, and Agreements Establishing Relationships
Any cooperative agreement between EWU and an outside organization, agency, or government entity for academic, educational, or business-related goals and objectives, must be reviewed, approved, and executed by an individual with signature authority as identified in Appendix A or by the President. This section does not apply to any agreements related to curriculum or articulation agreements, which may be approved by the Provost.
3.10 Real Estate
Any agreement for the rental, lease, sale, or purchase of real property must be coordinated through the Real Estate services office.
3.11 Material Transfer Agreements
Agreements regarding the transfer of materials to or from EWU may be reviewed and approved by the individual identified in Appendix A.
4. PURCHASING & CONTRACTS ETHICS
All employees involved in the procurement and contracting process must comply with the Ethics in Public Service Act, chapter 42.52 RCW and EWU Policy 901-01 (Ethical Standards). The University may require employees in such positions to fill out a disclosure of any potential conflicts of interest before being permitted to participate in the procurement process.
5. DISPOSAL OF PROPERTY
In accordance with state law, any property purchased by the university or with university funds can only be sold or gifted through the surplus process. Excess and/or surplus property is handled exclusively through EWU’s Surplus Store. Employees outside of the Surplus Store cannot sell or donate surplus property. If equipment or supplies are purchased using grant money, the department must check with the Office of Grants and Research before beginning the surplus process to confirm that no additional requirements apply.
The Surplus Store can sell surplus to the general public by auction, sealed bid, or negotiation. Surplus property cannot be sold to university employees except at a public sale. Finally, the Surplus Store can destroy property when it is determined the item does not have sale value.
APPENDIX A: DELEGATION OF UNIVERSITY AUTHORITY FOR PURCHASING & CONTRACTS
| Contract Type | Description | Level of Authority | Signatory Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affiliation Agreements | Affiliation agreements with sites for practicums, internships, clinicals | No fiscal Obligation | Academic personnel who have received training and a written delegation of authority from Procurement & Contracts |
| Purchasing Contracts | Contracts for Speaker/Artist/ Performer Goods and Services | $9,999 | Director of Finance & Administrative Services- Academic Affairs Director of Operations- Student Affairs |
| Purchasing Contracts | Dining Services Contracts for Goods and Services | $300,000 | Procurement Supply Specialist 3 |
| Purchasing Contracts | Contracts for Goods and Services | $300,000 | Procurement & Supply Specialist 4 Contracts Specialist 2 |
| Purchasing Contracts | Contracts for Goods and Services | $500,000 | Director of Procurement & Contracts Technology & Public Works Contract Administrator |
| Purchasing Contracts | Contracts for Goods and Services | Any amount | VP, Business & Finance AVP, Chief Financial Officer AVP, Business Services |
| Cooperation Agreements | Affiliation Agreements, MOUS, Cooperation Agreements, Interagency Agreements | No fiscal obligation | VP, Business & Finance AVP, Chief Financial Officer AVP, Business Services Director of Procurement & Contracts Contracts Specialist 2 Technology & Public Works Contract Administrator Provost |
| Research & Grants | Grants and sponsored research related contracts | Any amount | Provost Vice Provost Special Assistant to the Provost for Research and Grants AVP, Chief Financial Officer AVP, Business Services |
| Non-Disclosure Agreements | Any agreement requiring the non-disclosure of confidential information | No fiscal obligation | AVP, Business Services Provost or designee |
| Articulation and Affiliation Agreements | Articulation and affiliation agreements for academic programming | Any amount | Provost Dean of the College of Professional Programs Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Dean of the College of Health Sciences and Public Health Dean of the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math |
| Service Agreements | Contracts where EWU is being paid to perform services | Any Amount | VP, Business & Finance AVP, Chief Financial Officer AVP, Business Services |
| Material Transfer Agreements | Agreements to transfer materials to or from EWU | Any Amount | AVP, Business Services Dean of CSTEM |
| Public Works | Construction, planning, engineering or related contracts | Up to $ 5 million | VP, Business & Finance AVP, Chief Financial Officer AVP, Business Services |
| Public Works | Construction, planning, engineering or related contracts | Greater than $5 million | Board of Trustees approval with signature by VP for Business & Finance, CFO, or AVP for Business Services |
| Real Estate | Lease of any property or facilities | VP, Business & Finance AVP, Chief Financial Officer AVP, Business Services |
|
| Real Estate | Capital lease | Board of Trustees | |
| Real Estate | Purchase of any property | Board of Trustees | |
| Data Sharing Agreements | Agreements where the university shares protected data with an outside entity | AVP, Business Services Technology & Public Works Contract Administrator |
|
| Intellectual Property/ Technology Transfer | Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer or related agreements | Provost | |
| Athletic Game Day Contracts | Contracts wherein EWU commits to hosting or participating in an athletic event | Athletic Director | |
| Current as of Sep 4, 2024 |
