VCU Procurement Services

A Change Request is generally needed when a purchase order no longer reflects the expected price, quantity, funding, scope, or remaining balance. When the change is known in advance Submit a Change Request before the vendor provides additional goods or services when: Cancel or liquidate? For more detail, review Keeping POs Clean: Best Practices in […]

A cooperative contract can be an efficient way to purchase goods or services, but it is not automatically available for every VCU need. Send the contract details to Procurement Services before relying on a cooperative contract. Why cooperative contracts can help Cooperative contracts may provide access to competitively established pricing and negotiated terms while reducing […]

When you’re buying from an existing contract, link the contract to your RealSource requisition before you submit it. This matters most for purchases under $10,000, where the requisition typically becomes a purchase order without review by a Procurement Services buyer. If you don’t link the contract, no one else will. Why linking matters Linking connects […]

If a purchase involves a vendor contract, quote, order form, or online terms, contact Procurement Services before you sign or accept. Starting early helps identify the right purchasing path and allows time for any required reviews before the product or service is needed. Contact Procurement Services when: Why timing matters A purchase may require sourcing, […]

A handful of federal lists restrict purchases of equipment from specific manufacturers — even when you’re buying through a familiar reseller like Amazon Business, B&H, or Grainger. Drones, network gear, video surveillance cameras, and certain lab equipment are the most common cases. To make these easier to catch before checkout, we’ve put together a quick […]

For questions regarding invoices, payment status, or invoice-related support requests, RAMS Central remains the appropriate resource for departmental assistance and issue resolution. However, to support a more streamlined and efficient Accounts Payable review process, invoices should be submitted directly through AP’s centralized Trustflow intake process rather than attached to RAMS Central tickets. Please save the […]

We wanted to share a friendly reminder that’s been on our radar lately. Procurement Services has noticed an uptick in documents being submitted — attached to requisitions, uploaded into systems, sent over email — that include full Social Security Numbers (SSNs). We know this is almost always unintentional, so we wanted to make it easy […]

Greetings! As we approach the end of the fiscal year, let’s ensure a smooth wrap-up for 2026. Please take note of the key dates and tasks in the procurement closing schedule located in the document library on the Procurement Service website. Year End Activities FY26 VCU Procurement Services

Early Payment Discounts (EPDs) help VCU stretch its purchasing dollars by allowing certain vendors to accept slightly reduced payments in exchange for faster payment than the standard 35-day terms. The program usually runs smoothly, but questions often arise during vendor transitions—when a vendor is added to or removed from the program. EPD terms follow the […]

Sometimes the easiest way to avoid delays is also the simplest: start ahead. Departments often manage multiple priorities, and procurement is just one part of a larger effort. Bringing procurement into the conversation sooner creates more opportunity to identify the right path, resolve questions proactively, and keep things moving efficiently and compliantly. Not every purchase […]