Research Scientific and Laboratory Supplies Equipment and Services
The Higher Education Procurement Code, Section 525.A.19 allows for a non-competitive process for the procurement of “scientific and laboratory supplies, equipment and services for scientific research when procured by the university for laboratory, educational or scientific research not to exceed fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) per transaction.”
To qualify for the non-competitive status, purchases are to be from suppliers providing scientific or laboratory supplies, equipment and/or services AND funding must have a "Research" function worktag associated with your LSU account number as listed in the LSU Financial Data Model (FDM) within Workday. Please contact Procurement Services if you are uncertain if a purchase qualifies under this exemption.
These purchases may be requisitioned and purchased based on the receipt of one (1) acceptable supplier quotation. The procedure, paperwork requirements and process flow for such research purchases up to $50,000 are discussed below. Purchases exceeding $50,000 must be requisitioned by the Department and competitively bid by Procurement Services.
Definition of ‘Research-Related’
The University will use our existing the LSU Financial Data Model (FDM) within Workday to define qualifying research supplies and equipment funding. Non "Research-related" purchases must be requisitioned by the Department and will follow normal procurement rules.
Requirements for Orders
If scientific or laboratory supplies, equipment and/or services are available on a Master/Preferred Contract, the Master/Preferred contract must be used. If scientific or laboratory supplies, equipment and/or services items are not available on a Master/Preferred Contract, normal purchasing procedures apply.
For Supplier Website Purchases
Departments may purchase qualifying items from Scientific Supplier catalogs in lieu of obtaining a quote regardless of the dollar amount.
For Non-Catalog Purchases
Purchases $50,000 or less
Department identifies a qualifying need, secures one (1) acceptable supplier quotation from the department’s designated supplier, prepares Workday non-catalog requisition and electronically submits to all information to Procurement Services for a purchase order. See the PRO-U525.A.36: Small Purchases procedure.
Departments are strongly encouraged to secure the quote from the supplier using the LSU RFQ form. Supplier quotation forms often include provisions contrary to university and state procurement laws, rules and regulations; requiring Procurement Services to negotiate acceptable terms and conditions prior to an award. Use of the LSU RFQ form helps to eliminate flaws commonly associated with supplier quotation forms.
Purchases exceeding $50,000
Procurement Services handles securing bids from the supplier and issues the purchase order. See the PRO-U501.A.01: Invitation to Bid (ITB) procedure.
Rev 6/14/21