Buying Goods or Services

Baylor Marketplace

Baylor Marketplace is the University's online catalog of preferred suppliers. Shopping the Marketplace works much like shopping online, and it offers several benefits:

• Access to multiple approved suppliers, products, and centrally located catalogs, with no need to obtain quotes, complete supplier registration, or negotiate contracts
• Easy to find and order contracted items
• Prices negotiated on historical and forecasted University usage
• Required approvals routed automatically
• Electronic ordering and invoicing completed automatically in Ignite
• Supplier performance monitored by Procurement and Payment Services

To access the Marketplace, select Purchase Requisitions in Ignite's Procurement module.

Other Preferred Suppliers and Strategic Contracts

Preferred suppliers and strategic contracts are agreements with suppliers selected through a competitive process, with terms secured at the best value. If a supplier, good, or service is not in the Marketplace, we encourage you to work with Procurement Services to check whether an agreement is already available.

*Please note the agreement number for the desired contract; you will need to add it to the Non-Catalog Request so you receive the agreement benefits.

Competitive Bid Requirements

If no preferred supplier or strategic contract exists for the goods or services you need, a competitive bid may be required. The table below summarizes University guidelines.

• For purchases with a potential value of less than $25,000
  • Competitive quotes are not required
  • There must be no preferred or strategic supplier available, and pricing must be commercially reasonable
  • A purchase order is required
• For purchases greater than $25,000 but less than $100,000
  • Procurement Services must obtain three (3) or more quotes
  • There must be no preferred or strategic supplier available, and the requisition must clearly define the need and specifications
  • A purchase order is required
• For purchases greater than $100,000
  • A formal solicitation process is required
  • Strategic Sourcing will manage the process

*An order may not be split to circumvent the competitive bid requirements.

**All purchases are subject to Baylor's Procurement Policy. If this table and the policy conflict, the policy prevails. It is the purchaser's responsibility to be familiar with the policy.

Procurement Cards

Baylor Procurement Cards (P-Cards and Department Cards) are University-liability credit cards issued in the names of authorized, trained individuals to purchase certain eligible goods and services in support of the University. Only eligible direct business expenses may be charged; personal purchases are strictly prohibited. All transactions must be supported by a detailed business purpose and proof-of-purchase documentation and reconciled in Ignite Expense. Improper use of the card, including use for personal purchases, may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment.

Procurement Cards may be used when a purchase is within the card program limits and a purchase order is impractical. See the Purchasing Card Policy for more detail.