Procurement Card Policy and Restrictions

UC San Diego faculty and staff can use a Procurement Card (VISA) to purchase a wide range of goods and services for their department. The Procurement Card provides departments a way to purchase and pay for routine, low-cost products and services from suppliers.

Common Purchases

Abstracts
Advertisements
Audiovisual supplies materials
Books, CDs, DVDs
Bottled water delivery
Break room appliance & supplies
Cell phone purchase with the service plan billed through ITS
- The Express Card can also be used to purchase a UC San Diego business cell phone through an outside vendor; however, the service plan for the phone must be billed to UC San Diego.
Certification fees
Classroom supplies
Cleaning supplies
Cloud services
Copy services
Employee clothing/uniform
Computers - desktop, laptop, peripheral
Delivery fees
Equipment < $4,999 without a signed agreement
Film processing
Food for student only programmatic activities
Gasoline for UC-owned vehicles when it is not possible to refuel on campus
Instructional supplies
International purchases that do not have to be routed through U. S. Customs
International purchases without duty papers
Journals - print and online
Laboratory supplies
Magazines/Newspapers
Marketing materials
Memberships fees
Newspaper delivery (including online)
Office supplies
Online training
Periodicals
Photographic prints, processing and supplies
Printing services
Promotional materials
Professional or technical organization dues
Publications
Registration - conference or seminar without travel
Reprints
Research supplies
Shipping
Software - off the shelf & digital, no signed license agreement
Subscriptions for periodicals
Teaching supplies
Utilities

Common Restrictions

Some goods and services, regardless of their value, cannot be purchased using the Procurement Card due to funding or policy restrictions. Restricted items include but are not limited to the items listed in the table below.

Restricted from Express Card
Goods or services in excess of $4,999
Catering including alcohol and\or bar service for a meeting or hosted event
Conference Registration
Consultant, independent contracting, professional and personal services
Contributions/Donations
Controlled substances, regardless of cost
Equipment repairs on equipment not owned by the University
Equipment: Inventorial Rental Straight lease Fabrication with a purchase value in excess of $4,999 total
Export Restricted Items and Foreign purchases that require duty papers or are shipped FOB Origin
Facilities Management Services: Building alterations, maintenance & repairs Lock & key services Landscaping
Gasoline or diesel fuel
Gifts and awards
Gift Cards
Goods or services from any officer or employee of the university or from a near relative of any officer or employee
Meeting or Entertainment expenses
Personal purchases
Postage
Radioactive materials (regardless of cost)
Recharge-available goods and services: Animal Care Bookstore Catering Services Facilities Management Imprints Mail Services Self-store
Restricted Goods/Services: Alcohol for ships operations or specialized inventory Chartering of boats, buses, planes, shuttles, etc. Firearms, explosives, ammunition Precious metals Outside vehicle rentals or purchases
Subcontracts, sub-awards, or agreements involving sponsored projects
Supplier Contract (PROCUREMENT CARD HOLDERS ARE NOT AUTHORIZED TO SIGN A SUPPLIER CONTRACT), including maintenance or service agreements.
Vehicle rentals, leases, or purchases

Allowable Exceptions

The Procurement Card team can provide certain exceptions with prior approval.

Flower Arrangement: Décor for a University function
Gasoline - UC vehicle
Postage - Off-campus usage
Rentals - No contract required (Conference booths that do not include sponsorship, equipment, location space)
Software - Requiring signed license agreement
Student Programmatic event or expense
Visa – International employee travel

CAMPUS CLIENTS

Additional resources are available to you on Blink.

SEARCH BLINK