Building partnerships through collaboration.
Purchasing and Contract Services is committed to providing professional and value-added service to university staff and suppliers. We invite you to learn about the tools and resources for procurement and to partner with us to help you navigate the steps.
Are you authorized to purchase for your department and use UB business applications? Read the descriptions and consult with your supervisor, Dean’s Office, or Vice-President’s office to identify which applications may be most beneficial in performing your job duties.
| Description | |
|---|---|
| ShopBlue | ShopBlue is a fully integrated eProcurement system allowing authorized UB faculty and staff to place orders for necessary goods and services. ShopBlue is available for state, RF and UBF purchases of any dollar amount. |
| eRequisition System | For state and RF purchases for any dollar amount. Any faculty and staff can create eReqs, but prior authorization is required to be an approver for state accounts. Principal Investigators can request delegation of authority for others to approve expenses. |
| Procurement Cards | For state purchases up to $4,999, and UBF and RF purchases up to $2,500. |
| eProcurement | For state, UBF and RF online purchases up to $4,999 from custom web portals with FedEx, Fisher Scientific, and VWR. |
| SIRI | SIRI is a web-based business intelligence system. It is UB's single authoritative source for financial, HR, research, student, enrollment and facilities data. The information is provided to you through the use of dashboards. |
| RF Report Center | The RF Report center is an analytical tool allowing you to view data from the RF business system. RF Report Center provides reports through dashboards. |
Our procurement staff will guide you through the procurement process and offer you tools and resources to empower you to make decisions that improve your work. We invite you to collaborate with us for your specific needs.
The way to make a purchase depends on the goods and services you're ordering, your funding source and the dollar amount of your purchase. You will probably use all these tools to manage your procurement needs.
| ShopBlue | eReq | Procurement Card | eProcurement |
|---|---|---|---|
For state, RF and UBF purchases for any dollar amount. | For state and RF purchases for any dollar amount. | For state purchases up to $4,999, and UBF and RF purchases up to $2,500. | For state, UBF and RF purchases up to $4,999 from FedEx, Fisher Scientific, and VWR. |
| Learn more about ShopBlue | Learn more about eReq | Learn more about Procurement Card Programs | Learn more about eProcurement |
Finding a responsible supplier to meet your needs is important. Consult with our purchasing agents, follow all purchasing guidelines and strive for the best combination of service and cost when selecting a supplier.
| Buying Method | Receiving Method | Description |
|---|---|---|
| For ShopBlue purchase orders/invoices of any dollar amount | ShopBlue Receiver required | A receiver is required for every transaction in ShopBlue except for Payment Requests. |
| For eReq purchase orders/invoices UNDER $5,000 | Web Receiver required if discrepancies | Accounts Payable will issue payment ten calendar days after receipt of the invoice unless notified by the ordering department of any damages or discrepancies. |
| For eReq purchase orders/invoices OVER $5,000 | Web Receiver Required | When you receive part of or all of your purchase order, submit a Web Receiver to authorize payment of the invoice.
|
All assets purchased with state, Research Foundation or UB Foundation funds become the property of the University at Buffalo. Consult the UB policy Managing University Assets for the exact procedures for all asset management.
Our purchasing and contracts buyers are grouped into teams based on goods and services. Our knowledgeable staff can guide you through the purchasing process.
There are specific dollar thresholds and requirements for purchases with state, Research Foundation (RF) and UB Foundation (UBF) funds utilizing eProcurement, Procurement Card (PCard), the ShopBlue eProcurement system, or the eRequisition system (eReq).
Some purchasing circumstances are unique. We can help you manage your special purchasing needs.