Purchasing Policies for BSU and NTC

Please remember that BSU and NTC purchasing guidelines apply to all BSU and NTC purchases, whether by purchase order or purchasing card, and regardless of the type of account (i.e. 9 ledgers, summer session profit accounts, grant accounts, etc.).

If you have questions, please contact:
Direct BSU inquiries to Sandy Steffen ssteffen@bemidjistate.edu 218-755-2044
Direct NTC inquiries to Marie Bock mbock@bemidjistate.edu 218-755-2250

NOTE****Once you submit a PO and all of the required documentation to the Purchasing Office, please allow up to 48 hours to process the PO.

State Law Regarding Encumbrance of Funds:

Minnesota state law requires the encumbrance of funds BEFORE an order is placed or services are rendered.  Do not place an order or allow work to begin before a purchase order (PO) is fully processed (it must be at the 450 level).  In addition, consultant contracts must be fully signed AND funds must be encumbered by a purchase order BEFORE any work begins under the contract. Anyone who violates this requirement will be required to explain why they violated Minnesota Statutes 16A.15, Subdivision 3 using the After the Fact 16A Form.

Sales Tax

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is generally exempt by Minnesota Statute from sales tax on purchases. However, purchases of motor vehicles, meals and lodging are generally not exempt from sales tax.

In order for purchases to qualify for exemption, the purchases must be made by Minnesota State Colleges and Universities directly (accompanied by BSU Tax Exempt Form as of 1-4-13, NTC Tax Exempt Form as of 1-4-13); employee purchases are not exempt from sales tax if paid for with individual funds.

Individuals may be subject to penalty if they use Minnesota State Colleges and Universities certificate of exemption incorrectly for personal purchases.

MnSCU Board Policies:

The MNSCU Board Policies concerning Purchasing are at the following website: http://www.mnscu.edu/board/procedure/514p5.html Particularly note Part 5 about Encumbrances, Part 6 about Prepayment, and Part 10 about Targeted Group Businesses.

MnSCU Purchasing Control System:

The MNSCU PCS (Purchasing Control System), is used to create purchase orders for supplies, materials, equipment and services to be purchased for your department or area. Each department is responsible for choosing an appropriate person(s) to have access to PCS for the purpose of entering purchase orders. If you need training to use the MNSCU PCS system, please contact the Purchasing Office.

Purchasing Cards:

Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College participate in a MnSCU contracted purchasing card program. Information governing the use of purchasing cards is available at: http://www.bemidjistate.edu/offices/procurement_logistics/purchasing/cards/

Consultant Contracts:

Information governing professional/technical consultant contracts is available at: http://www.bemidjistate.edu/offices/procurement_logistics/purchasing/consultants/

Food Purchases:

Anytime you are purchasing food for anyone other than students (for example: food for faculty, staff, student workers, the general public, etc.), an approved Special Expense Request Form is required PRIOR TO THE EVENT. The Dean and/or Vice President of your area must approve the request before the purchase can be made.

Memberships & Subscriptions:

The preferred method to initiate payment for memberships and subscriptions is with a purchase order, rather than requesting reimbursement on an employee expense report. Memberships and subscriptions must be paid for in the appropriate fiscal year of their occurrence. Please do not leave memberships until the end of the fiscal year to pay, nor try to pay for them in a different fiscal year than they occur. The Purchasing Card is NOT allowed to pay for memberships.

Conference or Workshop Registration Fees & Travel Expenses:

Registrations and travel expenses are NOT allowed by purchase order NOR by purchasing card.  However, registration fees and hotel reservations may be made on certain designated travel cards.  Contact:

For BSU employees: Carol Hess, 218-755-2850, chess@bemidjistate.edu

For NTC employees: Doreen Kuhrke, 218-333-6611, doreen.kuhrke@ntcmn.edu

For Distance MN employees: Cathy Roberts, 651-556-0598, cathy.roberts@ntcmn.edu

For more information, please visit  http://www.bemidjistate.edu/offices/business/travel 
or contact the Travel Desk at 755-2850 (Deputy 203).

Signature Authority:

Deans, chairs, faculty, and staff do NOT have legal authority to sign documents nor enter into agreements on behalf of Bemidji State University or Northwest Technical College. Depending upon the type of agreement/document, it may need signature by the Director of Procurement and Logistics, the Business Manager, a Vice President or the President. In addition, such agreements may require review by the Attorney General's Office before we can agree and sign. If you are asked to sign an agreement on behalf of the university, please send it to the Director of Procurement & Logistics (Box 8) for review and determination of appropriate signature authority.

Obtaining Quotes:

When obtaining quotes, do NOT show vendors quotes from their competitors. This gives an unfair advantage. Price quote information is not public until after the purchase is made and then it must be requested from the Purchasing Office. The best way to obtain comparable quotes is to prepare a document listing the product(s) you want to purchase and leave blanks for the vendor to fill in prices.  Always require vendors to include applicable shipping/handling/freight on their quotes or to indicate none will be charged.

Vendors Where Purchase Orders Can Not Be Used:

PLEASE NOTE THAT PURCHASE ORDERS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO THE FOLLOWING VENDORS BECAUSE EITHER THEY DO NOT INVOICE US OR WE HAVE HAD EXTREME DIFFICULTY WITH THEIR INVOICING/BILLING SYSTEM.  PURCHASING CARDS SHOULD BE USED WITH THESE VENDORS:

Amazon
Home Depot
Joann Fabrics
Marketplace Foods
OfficeMax
Target
Wal-Mart