Purchasing Office

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Purchasing at USCB

Customer service is our first priority. As a servicing department, our goal is to develop and maintain an excellent working relationship with University departments, vendors and state procurement. This department strives to ensure all procurement transactions are conducted in a legal, ethical and professional manner. We abide by the procurement laws and regulations set forth by the state of South Carolina as well as USC system policies and procedures, which result in the most efficient, economical and responsible purchases. We offer all businesses an opportunity to compete on an equal basis.

Procurement Process

We ensure that all procurement transactions are conducted in a legal, ethical, and professional manner by abiding by the procurement laws and regulations set forth by the State of South Carolina and the University's policies and procedures. For questions please contact Abby Vaughn at (843) 208-8137.

PeopleSoft

How do I get into USCB's finance system?

Our finance system is called PeopleSoft. It can be accessed here from a University computer or when connected to the secure VPN. This system can help you:

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I find out whether an item is available on state contract?

State Contracts can be found on the Division of Procurement Services page here.

What if I need to buy a piece of IT equipment/software?

First, all IT purchases must be approved by IT to ensure compatibility with existing equipment and/or software. Also, IT will assist in choosing the appropriate/compatible equipment/software based on your departmental needs.

How do I make a purchase from a grant account?

The Principle Investigator (PI) must verify that funds are available and that any proposed purchase is allowable under the grant. All grant purchases must be approved by the USCB Director of Sponsored Programs before proceeding through the standard procurement process.

How do I purchase capital equipment?

Capital is defined as moveable equipment exceeding $5,000 (per item) or fixed equipment exceeding $100,000. First, the department must identify an appropriate funding source. Capital purchases must be approved by the Vice Chancellor of Finance before proceeding through the procurement process.

How do I procure services?

The department must verify that the vendor is an independent contractor and that an employer/employee relationship does not exist. If an employer/employee relationship exists or if the vendor is a current USC system employee, then it is determined to be an employment issue and, therefore, processed through HR and Payroll. If an employer/employee relationship does not exist and the vendor is not a current USC system employee, then the department should invite the vendor to become a supplier at https://suplier.ps.sc.edu. Services must follow the standard procurement thresholds outlined in the Purchasing Guide.

How can I be reimbursed through petty cash?

The use of petty cash has been discontinued at USC Beaufort and employees are strongly encouraged to work with Purchasing to find an appropriate means of purchasing goods directly from a vendor. If paying out of pocket for an item has been approved by the University, the employee should follow Accounts Payable processes to file a reimbursement request.

How can I purchase gift cards?

The purchase of gift cards is made in accordance with University policy BUSF 2.19. Gift cards must be purchased with a Program Expense Card and should never be purchased out of pocket. Information on the Program Expense Card, including links to the most recent application, can be found here.

How do I purchase food?

First, in accordance with BUSF 7.05, the department is required to have food purchases approved beforehand using the Food Policy Form. The form must be filled out completely and forwarded to the following individuals for approval: department head, USCB Director of Sponsored Programs (for grants), the Procurement office and the Chancellor. Failure to have the food policy approved before proceeding with the purchase may result in non-reimbursement of funds. The state procurement card cannot be used for any type of food/drink purchase.

How do I dispose of University property that no longer works or is no longer needed?

Any University property must be approved for disposal prior to removal from any campus. Please fill out a University Form 7 and send it to Pinky Harriott at pharriott@uscb.edu with photos of the item(s) requested for disposal.

Hargray Building Room 138 D
One University Boulevard
Bluffton, SC 29909