At NC State, there are several methods for departments to purchase goods and services for their business needs. These methods are listed below, ranked in order of preference:
- MarketPlace: This should always be your first choice!
- PCard: to purchase supplies and equipment under $5,000
- Non-MarketPlace Requisition: for purchases above $5,000 that cannot be sourced with a MarketPlace supplier
Before You Buy
Before purchasing goods or services, we recommend following these visual guides to determine the most appropriate method.
If the complex commodities or services that you need:
- Are not in the MarketPlace
- Are not in a State Term Contract
- Are not in an NC State University Agreement
- Are not in a National Consortium Agreement
It’s time to consider a Request for Proposals!
What is an RFP?
The Request for Proposals (RFP) is used when seeking supplier solutions for a commodity or service and when it is in the university’s best interest to allow potential suppliers flexibility in proposing a solution. At NC State, Procurement Services is responsible for the oversight of the RFP process.
The RFP is utilized when North Carolina law requires a competitive bid and areas other than cost are to be considered during the evaluation phase. Through a detailed process, the RFP process aids the university department in making an informed procurement decision.
When preparing for a complex requisition, the department will work with Procurement Services to compose clear and concise equipment specifications or service requirements. After submitting a non-MarketPlace requisition, a Procurement Services specialist will reach out to the requisition originator to further explain the RFP process in detail.
To learn more about this process or to start drafting an RFP, please refer to the Request for Proposals (RFP) Manual. You may also use the RFP Development Template, which includes instructions for the standard RFP structure.
Questions?
If you have questions or need assistance with drafting an RFP, please contact Kristen Shelton or Joel Johnson.