Skip to content

Purchase Orders

NOTE: Suppliers shall not make sales to the university without a valid purchase order unless a valid university procurement card has been provided. Procurement cards are rarely used and highly restricted; the vast majority of purchases require a valid purchase order, including all types of services regardless of dollar value.

A supplier may not receive payments or may have their invoices significantly delayed due to an unauthorized purchase. Please ensure you have a purchase order from UC before shipping goods or starting services. UC Merced Procurement & Contracting is the only office with legal authority to execute purchases. Purchase orders are issued for officially authorized purchases under compliance with The Regents of the University of California Business and Finance Bulletin 43, which governs procurement for the University of California.

UC Merced purchase orders include a delivery address and a billing address to which invoices should be submitted. Invoices should be submitted at or after the time goods or services are delivered.

Formal solicitations are prepared and issued by UC Merced Procurement & Contracting Services. The solicitations are provided to potential bidders and are posted at CalUSource, along with other UC bidding opportunities. Suppliers are required to register in that system if they wish to submit a proposal on any open RFx. Awards are made to the responsive, responsible bidder who can provide the highest overall value to the university.