PURCHASING
70.19
Revised 2-10
Purchasing Services
509-335-3541
OVERVIEW
A blanket authorization provides a limited direct authority to purchase goods and/or services from one or more vendors. A blanket authorization is established for a specific period of time.
NOTE: When appropriate and allowable, Purchasing Services encourages departments to use departmental purchasing cards, rather than blanket authorizations, to purchase goods and services from external vendors. Purchasing card use increases the efficiency, accountability, and tracking of transactions. See 70.08.
Types of Blanket Authorizations
The following types of blanket authorizations are in use at the University.
All-University Blanket
Any University department may use an all-University blanket authorization to purchase goods and services from a specified vendor.
The University has established a limited number of blanket authorizations with selected vendors for specific goods and services. University departments may make direct purchases from these vendors. Departments may place orders by telephone, mail, fax, or in person.
Sundry Blanket
In unusual circumstances, Purchasing Services may establish a sundry blanket authorization for a single department to use to purchase goods and services from various vendors.
Department Blanket
Purchasing Services may establish a department blanket for a single department to use to purchase goods and services from a specific vendor. Most often, competitive bidding is required to establish such a blanket.
Internal Blanket
A department may establish an internal blanket authorization with a University service center to purchase goods and/or services. The requesting department submits a completed Interdepartmental Requisition and Invoice (IRI) to the vendor department to establish the blanket authorization. See 70.05 and 70.06.
The following restrictions apply to blanket authorization purchases:
- Purchases may be made from only those vendors and for only those commodities listed in the blanket authorization. To view the commodities that may be purchased under the all-University blanket authorizations, see the Purchasing Services Blanket Orders website at:
VIEWING BLANKET INFORMATION
All-University Blankets
To view information regarding blanket authorizations which may be used by any University department to purchase goods and services from specific vendors, see the Purchasing Services Blanket Orders website at:
Department Blankets
Personnel use the online Administrative Information Systems (AIS) application called Purchasing, Accounts Payable, Receiving (PAPR) to view information regarding department blanket authorizations. In PAPR, select SRCBAORD and enter the department's organization number to view blanket end dates and spending limits.
PLACING ORDERS
To order goods and services under a blanket authorization from a non-University vendor, provide the following information to the vendor:
- Blanket authorization number,
- Department name and organization number for delivery,
- Contact name and telephone number, and
- Budget and project of the supporting account.
Delivery Address
WSU Pullman
If the order is for a WSU Pullman unit, indicate that the order be sent to:
Washington State University
Indicate campus delivery location
Pullman, WA 99164- Indicate mail code of delivery locationNOTE: If Central Receiving and Delivery is to deliver the order, the vendor's address label should show Central Receiving and Delivery as the delivery address; mail code 1120.
Other WSU Campuses
Indicate the appropriate delivery address.
Invoice Address
Indicate that the invoice be sent to:
Washington State University
Controller's Office
P.O. Box 641025
Pullman, WA 99164-1025
DEPARTMENT PICKUP
If the department picks up the order directly from the vendor, departmental personnel are to obtain an invoice from the vendor (if possible). The department indicates the following on the face of the invoice and routes it to the Accounts Payable Section of the Controller's Office:
- Blanket authorization number,
- Budget and project numbers of the supporting University account,
- Object and subobject, and
- An approval signature of a departmental staff member with expenditure authority for the supporting account. Refer to 70.02 for an explanation of expenditure authority.
NOTE: Some vendors route invoices directly to the Controller's Office.