Making a Purchase

The planning phase of a procurement is where the Project Manager/Requester gathers information and ensures essential elements are in place so that the purchase can occur. It includes defining the agency’s need for a supply, service or project, documenting management and budgetary approval, and defining clear specifications. For larger services and construction projects, it may also include ensuring that the division has the authority to contract for the purchase, making certain that funds are available through the anticipated end date for services and planning a time-frame to accommodate vendor selection and contracting activities. After initial planning is complete, the Project Manager can obtain any pre-approvals needed before vendor selection and/or contracting.

Please review our Quick Reference Guide to Purchasing or follow the links below in order to find out what you will need for your particular purchase or project:

What are you buying?

Definitions

Goods - Supplies, equipment, commodities

Services – Labor, time or effort by a contractor

Construction – Physical changes to state real property

Information Technology - Software, hardware (network-connected), programming, cloud-services, etc.

Professional Services - Surveyors, architects, landscape architects, industrial hygienists, engineers

Real Estate – Acquisition of or lease of any interest in real property such as land, water, minerals, buildings