T HE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA  AT CHAPEL HILL
Materials Support Department	The University of North Carolina at 919-962-2251 CB# 1100, 440 W. Franklin Street Chapel Hill, NC 27599-1100

Each year the NC Division of Purchase & Contract calls to our attention the necessity of anticipating and submitting needs which will require formal sealed bids before fiscal year end. For UNC-Chapel Hill, this includes all acquisitions that must be delivered, invoiced, and paid before June 30, 2000.

The legal and processing requirements for requisitions which must be submitted to the Division of Purchase & Contract (procurements with dollar value of more than $250,000) take a minimum of twenty to thirty days, and average between 40 and 70 days. The UNC Purchasing Division processes requisitions below this amount. Lead times for purchases which must be bid and publicly advertised by UNC-Chapel Hill (requisitions with dollar value of more than $10,000) average 25 days. These averages do not include manufacturing process lead time, delivery time, or time for installation, invoicing, and check processing. Therefore, any requisitions which must be advertised for bid by UNC or forwarded to the NC Division of Purchase & Contract should be sent to the UNC Purchasing Division as soon as possible, and not later than May 1, 2000. Departments should allow more time for complex requirements. While some items may not be received, invoiced, and paid before the end of the fiscal year it is always best to submit requisitions as soon as possible.

Please analyze carefully any purchasing needs you may have for the remainder of the fiscal year keeping in mind that for publicly bid items, we are not permitted to buy from other than low bidder if the sole reason for doing so is to obtain delivery and payment prior to fiscal year end. If you have questions or need advice for any purchase which may be affected by the fiscal year deadline, please contact the Purchasing Division.