FAQ

• How do I return goods?
• When do we have to pay sales tax?
• What constitutes equipment?
• How do I get large items delivered or shipped?
• What is a purchase order?, blanket order?, contract order?
• When does something have to be bid?
• How do I know when to contact Facilities Planning and Management (FP&M) about my purchase?
• How do I know when to do a Professional Services Agreement (PSA)?

 

How do I return goods?

When receiving shipments of goods, it is customary for the consignee (the University department) to inspect the goods for damage before signing for receipt of those goods. Open the package and inspect the actual merchandise if time allows. Before signing, always examine the outer appearance of the package to see if shipping damage is evident. If damage is evident, note the damage on the bill of lading that the carrier asks you to sign. Depending on the FOB terms of the transaction, the consignee may refuse the shipment and have it returned to the point of origin. If the goods cannot be refused, document your damage and call the company that sold you the product. In most cases, you only have 10 days to report hidden damages to your merchandise. Please refer to the returned goods information page for a checklist and more information on returning goods.

When do we have to pay sales tax?

Iowa State University (ISU), as a state educational institution, is exempt from paying state sales tax or local option sales tax on goods or services purchased in the state of Iowa. Payment of hotel/motel taxes is still required. To see other states where we may be tax exempt, please refer to theSales Tax Information Page.

What constitutes equipment?

Equipment is defined as any moveable property which has a useful life of one year or more, has a unit acquisition cost of at least $5000, is identifiable, and is not a replacement part. Please refer to the UPM Equipment Policy and Definitions for more information.

How do I get large items delivered or shipped?

Central Stores can help with the receiving of large goods for departments, moving them into buildings, or palletizing and preparing large goods for pick-up. Contact Central Stores for help and information.

What is a purchase order? blanket order? contract order?

All written orders issued by purchasing are issued on Purchase Orders. Purchase orders that beginning with I (i.e. I7-45123-00) are issued for single transaction purchases for goods and services that will not take place over a term period. Blanket and contract orders begin with the letter C, (for example C4-50635-07). Blanket orders are used to procure small dollar goods and services (under $10,00 annually) over a term period (usually a fiscal year) where no quoted pricing or terms exist. Contract orders are used to procure goods or services that have defined pricing over a term period (one year to multiple years). All purchase orders are generated by a web requisition from a University department. There are also intramural purchase orders, called "IPO's" or "Intramurals" that are used for purchasing items from campus departments. Information on web requisitioning or intramurals can be found at the Purchasing forms page.

When does something have to be bid?

Please refer to the Competitive Selection page.

How do I know when to contact Facilities Planning and Management (FP&M) about my purchase?

Departments should contact FP&M when items or services impact university buildings, may need additional utilities or space modifications, or when items are large or heavy. You can use the Facilities Impact Checklist to see if FP&M needs to be contacted.

How do I know when to do a Professional Services Agreement (PSA)?

For information on Professional Services Agreements, answers to frequently asked questions and document templates, visit the Professional Services page for complete information.