VCU Procurement Services

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 […]

A 2026 Quick Reference Guide for RealSource is now available to help users quickly navigate common tasks and processes. You can access the guide directly in RealSource through the Quick Links section. What’s Inside the Guide The guide covers key RealSource functions, including: Access the Guide Find the Quick Reference (2026) Guide in the Quick […]

As the winter break quickly approaches, the university will begin its annual holiday closing period. To help you plan ahead and avoid last-minute surprises, we’ve prepared our Winter Closing Schedule, outlining when offices and services will be unavailable. Why This Matters Understanding the winter closing schedule allows you to plan your work, purchases, and communications […]

As the holiday season approaches, the university will have a winter break closing period. To help you plan ahead, we’ve prepared our Winter Closing Schedule so you know when offices and services will be unavailable. Why This Matters Knowing the winter closing schedule helps you plan work, purchases, and other activities around the break. It […]

VCU Procurement Services is updating the way credits are handled in RealSource to improve transparency, compliance, and communication with departments. What’s changing? In the past, some credits were applied informally to offset the invoice. Moving forward, all credits will be  entered into RealSource to offset invoiced items. Most importantly, when a department returns an item […]

We’ve heard you—and we’ve made a change. Historically, Amazon’s e-catalog in RealSource has not allowed departments to create non-catalog orders, making it difficult to pay valid invoices when a PO is closed or otherwise unavailable. That’s now changed. 💡 VCU departments can now create a non-catalog order to pay a valid Amazon invoice—but only in […]

Procurement Services has received multiple reports from departments experiencing serious issues with one of the bottled water delivery vendors currently in use across campus. These issues include: One department shared that they haven’t received water since June, while another reported unreturned calls and broken equipment that has gone unserviced for months. 🔍 What’s the situation? […]