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Procure goods and services
Need assistance with procuring goods or services?
Institutional and sponsor requirements and regulations must be followed when procuring goods (supplies, materials, and equipment) and services (consultations, advice, and services from individual or legal entities) for research projects. All purchases must meet the standards for Allowability, Allocability, and Reasonableness (AAR) and directly support the aims of the project, as outlined in the budget for sponsored projects.
Approved procurement methods
The Duke Procurement website provides information regarding the approved methods for procuring and paying for goods and services. These include:
Use this guidance to decide which option is appropriate for any given purchase.
- Internal services provided by officially-recognized Core Services should be managed through CoreResearch@Duke
- The Duke Surplus and Storage Program is available for acquiring furniture, equipment, and supplies
- SciSwaps, an initiative through the myRESEARCHnavigators, can be used to offer and request reagents, equipment and other research items.
Access information about registering a vendor prior to purchasing equipment or goods.
The “Related Resources” section on this page provides quick access to common procurement forms (such as Research Support Services Agreements (RSSAs) and Sole Source Justification forms).
Important General Accounting Procedures (GAPs)
The "Related Resources" section on this page includes a number of relevant GAPs that should be followed when procuring goods and services for research projects. A few key GAPs to highlight include:
- GAP 200.135, Acquisition of Goods and Services Overview
- GAP 200.370, Purchasing Services on Sponsored Funds
- GAP 200.372, Purchasing Goods on Sponsored Funds
Refer to § 200.459 Professional service costs for guidance on the factors to consider when determining the allowability of costs related to professional services by individual(s) or legal entities, who are not employees (e.g., consultants, technical specialists, photographers, etc.) Considerations include:
- Necessity of contracting for the service, considering Duke University's existing capabilities;
- Reviewing whether the service can be performed more economically by direct employment rather than contracting;
- The qualifications of the individual rendering the service and the customary fees charged;
- Adequacy of the contractual agreement for the service (e.g., description of the service, estimate of time required, rate of compensation, and termination provisions).
Competitive Bidding
Price or rate quotes from an adequate number of qualified sources is required when purchasing goods, services, or other materials at or above the micro-purchase threshold. Generally, a minimum of three price or rate quotes are required, or a sole source justification/price quote selection form must be completed. Refer to GAP 200.101, Sole Source Justification/Price Quote Selection for Purchases on Sponsored Funds for additional information.
For additional assistance with procurement procedures and process, contact the business manager or lead research administrator for the project.