How To Buy

Whether you are new to NC State or have recently gained purchasing responsibilities, we want to make sure that you have the information that you need to make departmental purchases without delay. In this brief tutorial (11:26), we will provide you with tools and ready-to-use information so that you can purchase what you need while keeping you, your department or college, and the university safe and in compliance with state and federal policies.

Now that you have identified the need for a specific purchase and verified the funding source, use the Purchasing Decision Chart below to guide your next steps.

Purchasing Decision Chart

ORDER TYPE
DESCRIPTION
DOLLAR LIMIT
METHOD(S) USED
ORDER PLACED BY
Small Dollar Purchases
(<$4,999)		 Orders of supply items up to the departmental delegation level ($4,999) $4,999 1. MarketPlace
2. PCard		 Department
Large Dollar Purchases
(>$5,000)		 Goods and services >$5,000 None 1. Initiate a Requisition
2. A Purchase Order (PO) is sent to the selected supplier		 Procurement Services
Service Agreements Services performed by an outside supplier None 1. Complete Contract Review Form
2. Department initiates a requisition if >$5,000
3. Procurement Services creates PO from requisition if >$5,000

Department (<$4,999)

Procurement Services (>$5,000)

Debarred Suppliers

Suppliers that have been banned from doing business with NC State (and all state agencies). See debarred federal and state suppliers here.