Regulations & Policies

Procurement Services

I. OBJECTIVE & PURPOSE

To establish authority within which the University can acquire the goods and services needed for fulfilment of the University’s mission.

II. STATEMENT OF REGULATION

(1) Regulation.  The University is authorized to adopt regulations establishing basic criteria related to procurement, including procedures and practices to be used in acquiring goods and services, as follows:

 (a) Planning, negotiating, and executing agreements and contracts for goods and services under which the University may make acquisitions.

(b) Evaluating, approving, and utilizing contracts that are entered into after competitive solicitation by any State of Florida agency, department, school system, college or university, the Federal Government, other states, political subdivisions, cooperatives/consortia,  or any independent college/ university for the acquisition of  goods and services, when it is determined to be cost-effective or in the best interest of the University, to do so.  University shall maintain adequate documentation supporting the use of service contract adoption.  The University shall review existing consortia and cooperative contracts to identify potential savings or other benefits to the University and, if in the best interest to the University, adopt those contracts. University may enter into new consortia and/or cooperative contracts to achieve savings with a goal of realizing 5% savings on existing contract pricing.  Where practical and available, University will use existing SUS Shared Initiative contracts unless Chief Procurement Officer or designee determines/documents that use thereof is not in the best interest of the University.

(c) Awarding contracts for goods and services to multiple suppliers, if it is determined to be in the best interest of the University. Such awards may be on a University, regional or State University System-wide basis and the contracts may be for multiple years.

(d) Rejecting or canceling any or all competitive solicitations when determined to be in the best interest of the University.

(e) Barring any vendor from doing business with the University and/or removing a vendor from the University’s vendor list for demonstrated cause, including but not limited to: Failure to perform; attempts to inappropriately influence acquisition decisions/decision makers; being charged with or convicted of fraud; misdemeanor or felony in connection with the vendor’s commercial endeavors; bankruptcy, receivership or any other assignment to creditors; commencing or continuing to deliver/supply goods/services to the University after being notified to stop doing so; federal or state debarment; other federal or state advisement.  At the sole discretion of Procurement Services management, a barred vendor may have their status reviewed for reinstatement if the circumstances leading to the debarment are resolved to the University’s satisfaction.

(f) Prohibiting University and/or University Direct Support Organization employees participating in a competitive solicitation process from soliciting donations from responding vendors during the selection process, except for financial considerations or other benefits expressly stated in the solicitation document.

(g) Permitting the extension(s) of a contract, entered into as a result of a competitive solicitation, for up to twelve (12) months or until completion of the competitive solicitation and award or protest, whichever is longer.

(h) Permitting the renewal(s) of a contract, entered into as a result of a competitive solicitation, for a period that may not exceed 5 years or twice the term of the original contract, whichever is longer.  This provision is not intended to apply retroactively; existing contracts entered into prior to January 1, 2017, including any specified renewal period(s) may continue in accordance with the existing contract terms.

(2) Competitive Solicitation Threshold.  The competitive solicitation threshold is $150,000 (the “Competitive Solicitation Threshold”) for the acquisition of goods or services. Starting in January 2024, the competitive solicitation threshold will be reviewed every three years using the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), to determine if an adjustment should be recommended to the threshold.

(a) When only one response is received to a competitive solicitation the University may review the solicitation to determine if a second call for a competitive solicitation is in the best interest of the University. If it is determined that a second call would not serve a useful purpose, the University may proceed with the acquisition.

(b) The purchase of goods and services shall not be divided to avoid the requirement of competitive solicitation.

(3) Preferences for Florida-Based Vendors.

(a) Preferences for Personal Property. When the University awards a contract to purchase personal property, other than printing, by competitive solicitation pursuant to paragraph (2) of this regulation, a preference shall be provided to vendors with a principal place of business in Florida (such vendors hereinafter referred to as “Resident Vendors”) as follows:

1. If the responsible and responsive vendor that submits the lowest bid, the most advantageous proposal, or the best value reply is one whose principal place of business is outside of Florida and is in a state or political subdivision thereof that grants a preference for the same purchase to a vendor in such state or political subdivision, as applicable, then the University shall grant the same preference to the responsible and responsive Resident Vendor with the lowest bid received pursuant to an Invitation to Bid, the most advantageous proposal received pursuant to a Request for Proposals, or the best value reply received pursuant to an Invitation to Negotiate.
2. With respect to Invitations to Bid, if the lowest responsible and responsive bid is from a vendor whose principal place of business is in a state that does not grant a preference for the purchase to a vendor in such state, then the University shall grant a preference in the amount of five percent (5%) to the lowest responsible and responsive Resident Vendor.
3. For vendors whose principal place of business is outside of Florida, such vendors must, at the time of submitting its bid, proposal or reply, provide a written opinion from a licensed attorney in its state specifying: (a) the preferences(s) granted by the state or political subdivision, as applicable, under the laws of that state to vendors whose principal place of business is in that state or political subdivision; and (b) how the preference is calculated. The failure to submit the written opinion may be waived as non-material if all vendors responding to the solicitation have principal places of business outside of Florida.
4. The vendor’s principal place of business, as represented by the vendor in its bid or reply, may be relied upon by the University without further inquiry. If the University determines that a vendor has misrepresented its principal place of business, the vendor’s bid, proposal or reply shall be rejected.
5. For the purpose of paragraph (3)(a), “personal property” shall be defined as goods or commodities, but not real estate, intellectual property or services.

(b) Preferences for Printing. When the University acquires printed materials by competitive solicitation pursuant to paragraph (2) of this regulation, a preference shall be provided Resident Vendors as follows:

1. If the lowest responsible and responsive bid received pursuant to an Invitation to Bid is from a vendor whose principal place of business is outside of Florida, then the University shall grant a preference to the lowest responsible and responsive Resident Vendor in the amount of five percent (5%) if the University has determined that the printing can be performed by the Resident Vendors at a level of quality comparable to that obtainable from the vendor submitting the lowest bid whose principal place of business is outside of Florida.
2. For purposes of subparagraph 3(b)1, the level of quality shall be determined by whether a vendor satisfies the minimum specification requirements as set forth in the Invitation to Bid.

(c) Method of Calculating Five Percent Preference. If the competitive solicitation is an Invitation to Bid, then an amount equal to five percent (5%) of the total base bid and any alternates shall be deducted from the base bid and alternates, as applicable, of the lowest responsible and responsive Resident Vendor’s bid.

(d) Determining a Vendor’s Principal Place of Business. A vendor’s “principal place of business” is determined as follows:

1. If the vendor is an individual or a sole proprietorship, then its “principal place of business” is in the state where the vendor’s primary residence is located.
2. If the vendor is a business organization, then its “principal place of business” is in the state where the majority of the vendor’s executive officers direct the management of the vendor’s business affairs.

(e) Federally Funded Projects. Acquisitions made to perform specific obligations under federally funded projects shall not be subject to this preference requirement to the extent the application of a preference is not allowed under applicable federal law or regulation.

(4) Exceptional Acquisitions. The University is authorized to make exceptional acquisitions of goods or services without bidding as follows:

(a) Products with Recycled Content. The University may establish a program to encourage the purchase and use of products and materials with recycled content and postconsumer recovered material.

(b)  Private Attorney Services. Written approval from the Attorney General is not required for private attorney services acquired by the University.

(c)  Insurance. The University shall have the authority to purchase insurance as deemed necessary and appropriate for the operation and educational mission of the University.

(d)  Printing. However, if the University determines that it is in the best interests of the University to purchase printed materials through a competitive solicitation process, the preference provision in paragraph (3)(b) shall apply.

(e) Construction Owner Direct Purchases (ODP).  Acquisition of materials to be incorporated into any public work under the University’s owner direct purchase program.

(5) Acquisitions from Contractors Convicted of Public Entity Crimes. The University shall not accept a competitive solicitation response/submittal from or acquire goods or services from a person or affiliate who has been convicted of a public entity crime and has been placed on the State of Florida’s convicted vendor list for a period of 36 months from the date of being added to the convicted vendor list.

(6) Competitive Solicitation Exceptions. The following are not subject to the competitive solicitation process:

(a) Emergency Acquisitions. When the University President or his/her designee determines, in writing, that a delay due to the competitive solicitation process is an immediate danger to the public health or safety or the welfare of the University, including University tangible and/or intangible assets; or would otherwise cause significant injury or harm not in the best interest of the University, the University may proceed with the procurement of goods  or  services without a competitive solicitation.

(b) Sole Source Acquisitions. Goods or services available from a single source may be exempted from the competitive solicitation process.

(c) Acquisitions from Contracts or Price Agreements established by the State of Florida, other governmental entities, other Universities in the State University System, other independent colleges/universities, or cooperatives/consortia.

(d) The following listed goods and services: 

1. Artistic services;
2. Academic reviews;
3. Lectures;
4. Auditing services;
5. Legal services, including attorney, paralegal, expert witness, appraisal, arbitrator or mediator services;
6. Health services involving examination, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, medical consultation or administration. Prescriptive assistive devices for medical, developmental or vocational rehabilitation including, but not limited to prosthetics, orthotics, wheelchairs and other related equipment and supplies, provided they are purchased on the basis of an established fee schedule or by a method that ensures the best price, taking into consideration the needs of the client;
7. Services provided to persons with mental or physical disabilities by not-for-profit corporations organized under the provisions of s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or services governed by the provisions of the Office of Management and Budget Circular A-122;
8. Medicaid services delivered to an eligible Medicaid recipient by a health care provider who has not previously applied for and received a Medicaid provider number from the Department of Children and Family Services. This exception will be valid for a period not to exceed 90 days after the date of delivery to the Medicaid recipient and shall not be renewed;
9. Family placement services;
10. Training and education services;
11. Advertising; except for media placement services;
12. Services or goods provided by governmental agencies, another University in the State University System, direct support organizations of the University, political subdivisions or other independent colleges and universities;
13. Programs, conferences, workshops, continuing education events or other university programs that are offered to the general public for which fees are collected to pay all expenses associated with the event or program;
14. Acquisitions from firms or individuals that are prescribed by state or federal law, or specified by a granting agency;
15. Regulated utilities and government franchised services;
16. Regulated public communications, except long distance telecommunication services or facilities;
17. Acquisitions from an Annual Certification List developed by the University;
18. Acquisitions for resale;
19. Accounting Services;
20. Contracts or services provided by not-for-profit support and affiliate organizations of the University, direct support organizations, health support organizations and faculty practice plans;
21. Implementation/programming/training services available from owner of copyrighted software or its contracted vendor; or
22. Acquisitions of materials, supplies, equipment, or services for instructional or sponsored research purposes when a director of sponsored research or designee certifies that, in a particular instance, it is necessary for the efficient or expeditious prosecution of a research project in accordance with sponsored research procedures or to attain the instructional objective.

(7) Vendors Excluded from Competition. In order to ensure objective contractor performance and eliminate unfair competitive advantage, contractors that develop or draft specifications, requirements, statements of work, Invitations to Bid, Request for Proposals and/or Invitations to Negotiate shall be excluded from competing for such procurements.

(8) Standard of Conduct. It shall be a breach of ethical standards for any employee of a University to accept, solicit, or agree to accept a gratuity of any kind, form or type in connection with any contract for goods or services. It shall also be a breach of ethical standards for any potential contractor to offer an employee of the University a gratuity of any kind, form or type to influence the development of a contract or potential contract for goods or services.

(9) Protested Solicitations and Awards.  Protests arising from all University contract procurement processes for the purchase of goods, services, leases and for construction related competitive solicitations shall be handled in accordance with BOG Regulation 18.002.

(10) Bonding Requirements.  The University may set bonding requirements for Solicitation Security, Payment & Performance, and/or Solicitation Protest in accordance with BOG Regulation 18.003.

Authority:  BOG Regulation 18.001

Approved by BOT as amended 09/18/23

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