UNC-Chapel Hill Purchasing Guidelines
Timing
When purchasing on behalf of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill the price range of an item determines how it is purchased and subsequent delivery time. Purchasing thresholds and methods are explained at length in a Material and Disbursement Services brochure How To: Buy Goods.
| Example Delivery Times |
||||
| Threshold |
Example Item |
Method |
Example Vendor |
Optimum Delivery |
| under $2500 | Office supplies | E-commerce | Staples | 24 hours |
| Lab supplies | E-commerce | Fisher Scientific | 2-7 days | |
| Computers Printers |
E-commerce |
CDWG |
1-2 weeks | |
|
IT supplies |
E-commerce |
CDWG |
2-7 days |
|
|
|
||||
| $5,000-$10,000 | Lab equipment Computers Servers |
purchase requisition and 3 informal bids |
Fisher Scientific Dell |
2-7 days |
| $10,000-$25,000 | Lab equipment Printers Servers |
purchase requisition |
Fisher Scientific Dell |
25 days+ |
Remember delivery times are estimates. Supplier logistics and shipping are independent variables. And since some large items like subzero lab freezers can require 6+ weeks lead time, the purchasing process should be initiated well in advance of the need by date.
For additional details see:
- UNC Purchasing Our Services
- UNC small order policy
- How to Buy Goods
- How to Buy Services
