Effective Date: |
July 24, 2017 |
Function: |
Procurement/AP |
Contact: |
The RF has elected to accept the grace period for implementing the new procurement standards in the OMB Uniform Guidance as codified in 2 CFR Part 200. This policy is in compliance with OMB Circular A-110. The new procurement standards will be implemented by the RF to be effective on July 1, 2018.
This document should be used when reviewing
The same basic principles apply in both situations.
Operating locations can decide when the compliance review takes place. For example, the review could be conducted at the requisition stage or at the payment stage.
For purchases made using alternate payment methods (e.g., petty cash, out-of-pocket reimbursements), the review will take place after the purchase and payment has been made. The purchase may be disallowed if the review determines that the purchase violated any federal, sponsor, or Research Foundation (RF) regulations.
The review process will vary depending on the type of purchase/expenditure and the amount of the requisition/expenditure, and whether the requisition is submitted on a form or through the online Purchasing module. Operating locations may include additional location-specific requirements (e.g., multiple levels of review).
If the requisition is approved in the Oracle purchasing module, the review must take place prior to the approval online. The funds are not encumbered until the requisition is approved through the Purchasing module.
In general, a requisition or expenditure should be reviewed for
Each item is described in the blocks that follow.
If at any point the purchase/expenditure fails to conform to a regulation or requirement, the office conducting the review can either return the purchase requisition/expenditure to the project director with an explanation or contact the project director directly.
The Research Foundation has established minimum corporate criteria for purchasing and payment that consists of the following:
The requirement to review purchases to ensure that they are necessary and meet the basic cost considerations comes from the following:
OMB Circular A-110 states that recipients of federally sponsored awards should avoid purchasing unnecessary items. Thus, operating locations are responsible for
According to OMB Circular A-21, costs charged directly to a federally sponsored project must
Refer to Determining Direct and Facilities & Administration (F&A) Costs for more information on direct costs and cost considerations.
Section J of OMB Circular A-21 provides principles and definitions that must be applied when establishing the allowability of certain items. Refer to A-21 Excerpts - Unallowable Costs for a list of unallowable items.
Purchase requisitions or payment documentation should be checked against sponsor guidelines and the specific terms of award documents to ensure that the expenditure is allowable and that charges are the result of obligations incurred during the funding period (or approved pre-award period).
Sponsoring agencies frequently question, and sometimes disallow, expenditures made near the close of a grant or contract period, and may disallow purchases made after the termination date. This is especially true if the grant or contract will not be renewed or extended and the items cannot be received prior to the termination date or shown to have benefited the grant or contract.
If, in the judgment of the appropriate operating location office, a purchase cannot be successfully completed prior to the termination date of a grant or contract, the business office should either return the requisition to the project director with an explanation or contact the project director to discuss the situation.
Note: Exceptions may be made in certain situations (e.g., the printing of a final report) if the cost is an allowable charge according to the award document.
OMB Circular A-110 requires that procurement transactions be conducted in a manner to provide, to the maximum extent practical, open and free competition. Refer to Procurement Policy and Solicitation Guidelines for more information.
A specific vendor or independent contractor may or may not be indicated on the purchase requisition. The following table indicates what must be done in each situation. Refer to Selecting a Vendor or Independent Contractor Guidelines for compliance requirements for the selection process.
If a vendor or independent contractor... |
then... |
is identified, |
review the request to ensure that the requirements for vendor or independent contractor selection have been met. Note: Vendor must be in the Supplier File if a purchase order is created in the Purchasing module. It is not necessary when entered a requisition online. |
has not been chosen, |
choose a vendor or independent contractor according to the compliance requirements. |
When choosing a supplier, a cost and price analysis must be performed and documented for purchases of $50,000 and more. Refer to Selecting a Vendor or Independent Contractor Guidelines for a detailed explanation.
Certain types of expenditures have additional review and documentation requirements. The following table identifies the expenditure type and indicates where additional information on the topic can be found.
information on... |
refer to... |
miscellaneous income |
Requirements for Miscellaneous Income Payments to U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens |
independent contractors |
|
honoraria |
|
use of RF-owned vehicles |
|
central stores and service centers |
None.
Determining Direct and Facilities & Administration (F&A) Costs
A-21 Excerpts - Unallowable Costs
Selecting a Vendor or Independent Contractor Guidelines
Requirements for Miscellaneous Income Payments to U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens
Personal Use of Research Foundation Vehicles
Campus Central Stores and Service Centers
None.
Date |
Summary of Change |
September 6, 2022 |
Updated link to Personal Use of Research Foundation Vehicles Procedure. |
July 24, 2017 |
Updated to comply with procedure template |
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