Split Purchasing
Splitting of purchases to stay within the $5,000 ($10,000 if Delegated Purchasing Agent) limitation is strictly prohibited and subjects the University to a critical audit review.
Suppliers suggesting or offering to put materials on multiple invoices to avoid the $5,000/$10,000 limit should be reported to the Procurement Services. Departments guilty of "splitting" invoices risk having to pay the invoices with non-University funds and possibly losing their purchasing authority.
If the supplier involved will deliver, or ship, or allow a department to pick up an order of $5,000 or less based on the department's verbal order, then the invoice for that purchase (approved for payment with proper budget codes) may be submitted directly to Accounts Payable for payment.
Although purchases within the $5,000 /$10,000 limit are monitored periodically, it is the responsibility of the department to call the Procurement Services' attention to any item purchased on a repetitive basis that could be stocked in University Stores or placed on a University contract.
Rev 5/19/21