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Purchasing Code of Ethics

The Strategic Procurement division of Business and Financial Services (BFS) fosters and promotes fair and ethical business practices while acting in the best interest of the University of California and the people of the State of California. This includes adhering to a strict code of ethics.

It is important that our suppliers understand that the university expects faculty and staff who are involved in any aspect of purchasing goods and services for UC San Diego, to adhere to the Purchasing Code of Ethics:

  • Give consideration to UC San Diego's mission and Principles of Community
  • Obtain maximum value for each dollar spent
  • Decline personal favors, gifts, and gratuities
  • Grant all competitive suppliers fair and equal consideration
  • Conduct business with potential and current suppliers in an atmosphere of good faith
  • Demand honesty in sales representation
  • Receive consent of originator for use of proprietary ideas and designs
  • Make a reasonable effort to obtain an equitable settlement of any controversy with a supplier
  • Accord a prompt and courteous response to all who call on legitimate business
  • Foster fair, ethical, and legal business practices
  • Protect the University's interest by ensuring suppliers honor all terms of their contracts

Sensitive information

University faculty and staff have access to information about the contracts with suppliers engaged in doing business with UC San Diego. This information, including terms and conditions, pricing and/or sourcing documents must not be shared with any other party except as allowed by the California Public Records Act and the Information Practices Act.

Policy

The University of California Ethics Program ensures that the university policy on ethics is circulated to all campuses. Each department chair/head must make this policy available to all department business officers and staff having authority to conduct business on behalf of the university. Strategic Procurement's responsibility is to foster and promote fair and ethical business practices and provide assistance in support of the policy.

Authority

The Chief Procurement Officer has the authority to review the conduct of any employee if it could involve non-compliance with the conduct & ethics, anti-kickback policy, conflict of interest, employee-vendor relationships, or incentives and rebates guidelines. In the course of a review, the Chief Procurement Officer may consult with Human Resources, the Office of Contracts and GrantsConflict of Interest, department management, and any other appropriate source.

If the circumstances warrant an independent investigation, the policy provides that Audit and Management Advisory Services be notified to conduct an investigation. The results will be reported to the purchasing director and/or other department management.