Purchasing Services

Federal acquisition regulations prohibit the purchase or use of certain non-U.S. goods and services. University personnel may not buy or operate prohibited items - including unmanned aircraft systems, telecommunications and surveillance equipment, software, and other technologies - from restricted sources.

Additional details are available on the University's Export Controls and Research Security team's Federal Procurement Restrictions webpage.

Use this summary to understand the basics of your purchase decision. Additional information about each purchasing method can be found on the Policies/Processes page. Employees involved in departmental purchasing are expected to fully read and adhere to all departmental, sponsored, and University policies. Do NOT sign or agree to a supplier’s Terms and Conditions. Because the University is a constitutional function of the State of Minnesota, certain laws and regulations apply to our contracts that do not apply to other customers, so insist on using the University’s Terms and Conditions. Additional information about contracts can be found in the University’s Policy on Entering into Contracts.

Refer to the Making the Most Common Purchases Guide as a general resource.

The mission of the University's Office for Supplier Diversity (formerly Business & Community Economic Development, BCED) is to contribute to the economic growth, development and prosperity of Minnesota’s urban communities. The Office for Supplier Diversity is a social enterprise whose purpose is to leverage the assets and resources of the University to create programs and services that provide innovative solutions to real-world social-economic problems that impact urban communities. More importantly, the department is a critical component of the University’s public service and outreach mission and its role is to create economic and community development strategies that drive the University’s Urban Agenda. The Office for Supplier Diversity facilitates collaborations between the University and nonprofit, corporate and public sector partners that focus on enhancing the human condition of underserved populations. Additional information can be found on the University's Office for Supplier Diversity website.

The University's Office of Sustainability, and its educational campaign "It All Adds Up," provides direction and coordination for sustainability initiatives by bringing forth their continuous effort of integrating environmental, social and economic goals through design, planning, and operational organization. The goal is to create a culture of sustainable practices, with a commitment to becoming carbon neutral by 2050 through inclusive projects, cross-campus planning, partnerships, and working with the greater community. Additional information can be found on the University's Office of Sustainability website.