Review and Approval of Commitments Requiring Prior Institutional Authorization and Issuance Of The Purchase Order:

In order to minimize institutional vulnerability to legal claims, unintended program obligations and financial liabilities, all contracts, letters of agreement, leases, real estate and construction documents and service contracts must be reviewed as to form and approved by the Office of General Counsel before any commitments are undertaken.

After documents are approved as to form by the Office of General Counsel and execution is authorized, the next step, in many instances, is the preparation and the submission of a purchase order and its budget approval in accordance with the purchasing procedures as outlined in this policy.  The written approval of the Office of General Counsel, as to contract documents and any comments, should be attached to the purchase order.

DO NOT ATTEMPT to negotiate with the vendor.  Procurement Services will perform all negotiations and obtain the appropriate institutional authorized signature for any required documents.

If this procedure is not followed, the institution will not be responsible for the financial and legal consequences.