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Purchasing Policy and Responsibility

To participate in the goals and objectives of the institution by ensuring that the best value is obtained in the acquisition goods and services in a timely manner.

The Purchasing function is centralized in the Purchasing Department. The manager of the Purchasing Department is responsible for purchasing all supplies, equipment and services, including rental of equipment required by the institution and research grantees.

Only the Purchasing Department is empowered to commit the credit of Thompson Rivers University, except for those instances where this power has been specifically delegated by the Vice President, Administration and Finance.

Exceptions to #3 are the purchases of library books, bookstore merchandise and perishable food purchases (ordered by the open P.O. process, setup by the purchasing dept). The TRU librarian is responsible for the purchase of library books, the bookstore manager is responsible for the purchase of bookstore merchandise and the chairperson for the food-training centre is responsible for the food purchases.

Suppliers who accept orders from individuals or departments which do not reference an official Purchase order number, and who subsequently invoice Thompson Rivers University for payment, will be advised that payment cannot be made for orders accepted from unofficial sources.

TRU is maintained largely by public funds and all suppliers are entitled to have their tenders considered when TRU is in the market for goods and services.

Purchases of material and services, with certain exceptions, will be covered by Purchase Orders (PO), the authority for which will be a properly approved Purchase Requisition (PR).

Construction and renovation contracts estimated to have a value greater than $ 20,000 shall require comparative pricing and those greater than $ 50,000 in value shall be tendered. The purchase of goods or services greater than $ 2,000 in value for a single item shall require comparative pricing and those greater than $ 20,000 shall be tendered in accordance with operational policies and procedures. Exceptions to this policy would be when the need is critical and where delays would not be in the best interest of TRU's operations or where materials or services are unique.

As a ruling principal, orders and contracts will be awarded to the lowest qualified bidder with the best value for TRU. However, all other things being equal, preference will be shown to local firms, British Columbia firms and Canadian firms, in that order. Any deviation from this principle will be as a result of negotiations between the manager of Purchasing and the requisitioning departments.

TRU purchasing department will take into consideration the effects on the environment that products or services will have, and will recommend substitutions or alternative solutions. The responsibility for environmentally responsible purchasing will be from the initial purchase to disposal. Purchasing will keep abreast Government regulations and controls as well as impending government actions and how they will impact the institution.