Procurement and Contracts

Providing Procurement and Contract Services

The Procurement and Contracts department is responsible for all purchases and contracts made by the University. The Procurement staff assists the campus community with their purchasing needs and acts as a liaison with vendors and service providers. The department is responsible for issuing: purchase orders, agreements, memorandums of understanding (MOU), fees for service agreements and contracts. In addition, the department takes initiative in coordinating and evaluating bids, obtaining quotas for needed goods and services, as well as managing the office supplies contract and the procurement card program.

Based on its compliance with the Integrated CSU Administrative Manual (ICSUAM) section 5000, Purchasing utilizes written delegations of authority from the campus President to the various individuals authorized to procure. Only authorized Procurement employees and certain delegated executive management may develop and approve contractual documents and obligate the University. Any department considering a contractual document or agreement with an outside entity or with an Auxiliary must coordinate the contract development and approval through Procurement, in order to finalize the contract. The collaboration between Procurement and campus departments for contract development is mandatory in order to provide consistency and compliance with systemwide policies. This is true for both monetary and non-monetary contractual instruments. Auxiliaries are also encouraged to consult with Procurement on any contractual matter.

Please contact Procurement for assistant in meeting any procurement needs.

Mission Statement (Our Mission)

The mission of Procurement & Contract Services is to provide quality, cost-effective, and timely procurement services to the campus community in support of the educational goals of California State University, San Bernardino. A commitment is made to provide these services in an ethical, courteous, and professional manner, in accordance with external mandates, and in cooperation with campus units.

What We Do

Procurement & Contract Services is responsible for the acquisition of all goods, services, leases and construction on behalf of California State University, San Bernardino. Campus procurement professionals are required to adhere to state, federal, California State University, and campus policies and procedures to assure that legal requirements are met, and good business practices followed.

Core Values

Value Statement

CSUSB Procurement and Contracts aims to develop our People, streamline our Processes, and optimize the delivery of our services through the effective use of Technology in order to fulfill our core values.

Professional Development

We invest in the development of our staff through membership in professional organizations, assisting in the attainment of professional certification, providing continuing education opportunities.

Cost Effectiveness

We strive for cost effectiveness through early involvement in the procurement process, seeking competition (when necessary), standardization, cost and price analysis, and maximization of the economics of quantity buying.

Positive Supplier/Contractor Relationships

We are committed to the development and maintenance of strong supplier relations and to the continued development and utilization of California certified small businesses and disabled veteran business enterprises (DVBE).

Protection of the University Interests

We work to ensure all purchase transactions are conducted in accordance with current University policies and procedures, state and federal laws and regulations

Preserving the Public Trust

We endeavor to preserve the public trust by exercising due diligence, utilizing best practices, maximizing limited resources, and maintaining transparency in the course of procurement and contracting activities

Leadership

We encourage our staff to pursue personal and professional growth through assuming leadership roles both inside and outside the university.

Efficiency

We are committed to continual incremental improvement.

Professional Conduct

We aim to conduct all activities in a fair, ethical and professional manner, consistent with the Professional Standards and Conduct of the Institute for Supply Management and the Code of Ethics of the National Association of Educational Procurement.

Assistance and Information

We provide research activities for the benefit of campus departments and University-wide administration. These activities include, but are not limited to locating sources for needed materials and services, providing literature and/or price estimates for budgetary purposes, providing information for user's consideration and counseling users concerning purchasing requirements, policy and procedures.

Environmental Responsibility

We aspire be stewards of the environment, assisting the campus with buying goods and services from manufacturers and suppliers who share our values of environmental sustainability.

Ethics

Professional Standards and Conduct

CSUSB is committed to maintaining high standards of performance based upon fair, ethical, and professional business practices. To further this end, the University through the Chief Procurement Officer subscribes to the Principles and Standards of Ethical Supply Management Conduct of the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) and the Code of Ethics of the National Association of Educational Procurement (NAEP).

ISM Principles

Integrity in Your Decisions and Actions
Value for Your Employer
Loyalty to Your Profession

From these principles are derived the ISM standards of supply management conduct:

Impropriety. Prevent the intent and appearance of unethical or compromising conduct in relationships, actions and communications.
Conflicts of Interest. Ensure that any personal, business or other activity does not conflict with the lawful interests of your employer.
Influence. Avoid behaviors or actions that may negatively influence, or appear to influence, supply management decisions.
Responsibilities to Your Employer. Uphold fiduciary and other responsibilities using reasonable care and granted authority to deliver value to your employer.
Supplier and Customer Relationships. Promote positive supplier and customer relationships.
Sustainability and Social Responsibility. Champion social responsibility and sustainability practices in supply management.
Confidential and Proprietary Information. Protect confidential and proprietary information.
Reciprocity. Avoid improper reciprocal agreements.
Applicable Laws, Regulations and Trade Agreements. Know and obey the letter and spirit of laws, regulations and trade agreements applicable to supply management.
Professional Competence. Develop skills, expand knowledge and conduct business that demonstrates competence and promotes the supply management profession.

Purchasing professionals must have a highly developed sense of professional ethics to protect their own and their institution’s reputation for fair dealing. To strengthen ethical awareness, and to provide guidelines for its Members, NAEP has long promoted a code of ethics.

Give first consideration to the objectives and policies of my institution.
Strive to obtain the maximum value for each dollar of expenditure.
Decline personal gifts or gratuities.
Grant all competitive suppliers equal consideration insofar as state or federal statute and institutional policy permit.
Conduct business with potential and current suppliers in an atmosphere of good faith, devoid of intentional misrepresentation.
Demand honesty in sales representation whether offered through the medium of a verbal or written statement, an advertisement, or a sample of the product.
Receive consent of originator of proprietary ideas and designs before using them for competitive purchasing purposes.
Make every reasonable effort to negotiate an equitable and mutually agreeable settlement of any controversy with a supplier; and/or be willing to submit any major controversies to arbitration or other third party review, insofar as the established policies of my institution permit.
Accord a prompt and courteous reception insofar as conditions permit to all who call on legitimate business missions.
Cooperate with trade, industrial and professional associations, and with governmental and private agencies for the purposes of promoting and developing sound business methods.
Foster fair, ethical and legal trade practices.
Counsel and cooperate with NAEP Members and promote a spirit of unity and a keen interest in professional growth among them.

Members are also encouraged to participate in continuing open discussions of ethical principles with their colleagues and with others.