APO/SDSS/NMSU Purchasing,
Travel,
Receiving,
and Shipping Procedures
APO purchase and travel procedures
are used to obtain goods and services. Purchases may be made using purchase
orders, petty cash, or procurement card. If you have questions on processing
these procedures, please contact Beth Mitchell, Program Manager, 575-437-6822. (Revised 11/17/14)
BE AWARE: NMSU no longer accepts handwritten forms; you must follow their directions for each form you need.
APO purchases goods using NMSU's
Business Manual. APO purchases, receives, and pays for goods and services
using Wells Fargo Procurement credit cards issued through NMSU and an NMSU electronic system called Banner for issuing purchase orders. NMSU will not reimburse an
expense which does not follow procedures as specified in their business manual. APO's
procedures are established to satisfy NMSU/Banner requirements, as well as those
for the Astrophysical Research Consortium and the NSF.
Vendors
REMINDER: when placing a purchase order or credit card order, identify
yourself to the vendor as New Mexico State University, goods are shipping to Apache Point
Observatory.
For purchase orders, contact the Program Manager or SDSS Buyer to determine if the vendor is on NMSU's
electronic system. NMSU has over 3,000 vendors on their system, so there is
a good chance that your vendor is recognized by NMSU. Be sure to ask your vendor
if they already have an account for NMSU or APO.
If you would like to add a vendor, contact the Program Manager or the SDSS Buyer.
Purchase
Requests
For all methods of purchasing goods and services, i.e. petty cash,
procurement card, or purchase order, an e-mail showing approval by the Site Operations Manager or Program Manager is required.
ALL Purchase requests must be submitted within three (3) days
of purchase.
ANY purchase that is $1K or more for one item must be approved by the Site
Operations Manager PRIOR TO PURCHASE; submit your email requests directly to the
Site Operations Manager.
The Site Operations Manager will process and forward
to Astronomy for capital equipment screening, and
then forward the completed approval to the cardholder to make the purchase.
Even if you think the purchase is a repair item, it must have prior approval
by the Site Operations Manager (written, not verbal). Write in the email subject
line "OVER $1,000"
Once the requestor receives email approval, you can proceed with placing
the order by credit card. If a Purchase Order is required, contact the Program Manager or SDSS Buyer.
This procedure does not include any services, items or receipts less than $1K , or cryogenics.
Any purchase over $200 requires prior e-mail approval
from the Site Operations Manager, except propane and cryogenics.
Purchases under $200, as well as propane, cryogenics and utilities, requires email
approval from Program Manager and may be made without prior e-mail approval.
The following information must be included in your email:
Purpose for purchase - a brief informative
explanation for the purchase which should include action words like wash,
clean, repair, maintain, etc., along with the following project-specific budget
identifier:
3.5m - for goods/services related to the 3.5m
telescope and its operation
ARCTIC - for goods/services related to ARCTIC instrument
ARCSAT - for goods/services related to 0.5m telescope
SDSS - for goods/services related to the
2.5m telescope and its operation
SPLIT - if you are purchasing for shared
site-wide use, then you will use this identifier. If goods/services will
be used more than 50% by a project, then the specific identifier
must be used, too
eBOSS - for goods/services related to the eBOSS survey
only
APOGEE - for goods/services related to the APOGEE
survey only
MANGA - for goods/services related to the MANGA survey only
Please try and consolidate/organize your request(s)
so that only one identifier is used per request. You
may combine/split purchases for one vendor but you must indicate
which item(s) relate to which identifier.
Vendor name, phone number
Item/stock number, description of item, quantity,
price per unit, total for order
Estimated shipping costs must
be included
Date for delivery (ASAP means
nothing)
If you use the invoice for your approval, then the above can be elimininated and add invoice to your approval.
If the order is for labor/work on site, you will need
to place the order and arrange for the onsite work. Please
coordinate onsite activities with the Site Operations Manager.
NM
Gross Receipts Tax
Tax is paid on all labor provided by the vendor. Tax can be charged and
paid through NMSU.
NMSU does not pay tax
on any goods purchased through their system, to include petty
cash,
procurement cards,
or purchase orders. When making
your purchase, please advise the vendor that you are associated with
NMSU and that tax is not applied. If the vendor has a
non-taxable certificate for any other NMSU department, the
certificate is good for all departments -- in Alamogordo or Las
Cruces.
If you require a non-taxable tax certificate issued to a vendor, contact Program Manager
with vendor name, phone number and point of contact.
Petty
Cash
Using APO/NMSU cashbox: you receive cash only with
a
signed receipt and petty cash form submitted to the Program Manager up to $100. Tax (except on labor) is not reimbursed to APO; APO will cover the tax for APO personnel. Purchases
over
$50
require
prior
approval from the Program Manager. Meals or travel expenses
cannot be
reimbursed through petty cash.
Procurement
Cards
Upon request, and the Site Operations Manager's approval,
NMSU issues Wells Fargo VISA procurement cards to NMSU/APO employees. If you would like
to make a credit card purchase but do not have one, you are welcome to send
your request to the APO Program Manager.
All procurement card purchases are subject to the above
described purchase request approval process.
Purchase requests must be submitted within 3-days
of purchase.
Any purchase that is $1K or more for one item must be approved by the Site
Operations Manager PRIOR TO PURCHASE; submit email requests directly to the
Site Operations Manager.
The Site Operations Manager will process and forward
to Astronomy for capital equipment screening. and will
then forward the completed approval to the cardholder to make the purchase. Even
if you think the purchase is a repair item, it must have prior approval by the
Site Operations Manager (written, not verbal). Put in the email subject line
"OVER $1,000"
Once the requester receives email approval, you can proceed with placing
the order by credit card. If a Purchase Order is required, The Program Manager or SDSS Buyer can process
the order.
This procedure does not include any services, any items which
combined on one receipt are greater than $1K, or cryogenics.
Purchases cannot exceed $3,000 for any one invoice, and
$10,000 for any one billing cycle (19th of every month). With the cardholder's
prior approval, purchases can be made by other individuals.
Use vendors that have established NMSU accounts so that
an NMSU non-taxable transaction certificate is already on file and no tax is
applied. Travel and meal expenses cannot be applied to this card. For complete information, read
NMSU
Procurement Card.
Purchases: $0 - $2499
Please use this procedure if a vendor requires a hard
copy of a
purchase order, or your order exceeds petty cash/procurement card
limits, or you are purchasing capital equipment. (see below)
Send an e-mail purchase request for
approval, the request is processed through NMSU, the order is placed,
and you will receive an e-mail confirmation and eventually a copy of the
purchase order.
Purchases:
Capital Equipment $1,000 - $20,000
Capital equipment is defined as equipment that can
stand-alone and operate. If it is a part of a larger piece of equipment,
or a replacement part in a piece of assembled equipment, then it is not capital
equipment.
Purchases of capital
equipment $1000 and greater requires a purchase order; procurement cards
cannot be used. Please submit a purchase request through the Site Operations
Manager. A purchase order
will
be faxed
to the vendor.
Purchases:
$3,000 and over
All goods/services $3,000 or larger requires a purchase order.
NMSU requests a "good-faith" effort in shopping for
your goods. Please provide email explaining your process at obtaining
verbal quotes for your goods/services; if you were unable to obtain, then
say so.
$3,001 - $20,000 - requires one written quote
$20,001 - $60,000 - requires three written quotes
$60,001 and greater - requires a formal bid (RFP)
Quotations: addressed
to APO containing commodity, price, delivery date and on vendor letterhead
or vendor email address.
If you know the commodity and have not
chosen a vendor, supply a purchase request with detailed information on your
goods/services, and NMSU will process.
Sole
Source Justification: an NMSU form used when a specific vendor is required
to acquire the commodity.
To specify a particular vendor for orders
greater than $3,000, complete a Sole Source Justification: proposed vendor,
product, description and estimated price, plus Statement Part 1 (A & B) and
Part II (A only). Be sure to sign and date. Attach a quote from the vendor (on
vendor's letterhead), and forward to Site Operations
Manager or designee.
Fax or e-mail quotes are acceptable.
Travel
For more details, see
NMSU
Travel
ARC's policy is to reimburse APO/SDSS staff
all their actual expenses for domestic or international travel. A travel
request is required to be processed
with the following basic information:
- traveler's name
- purpose of travel (this includes a budget identifier)
- dates of travel
- cost of airfare, lodging,
meals
- cost of incidentals (tips,
registration, etc)
- total cost of trip
Requests are submitted for approval
to the Site Operations Manager or designee prior to
travel.
Official travel begins and ends from your point of origin- please
calculate mileage and expenses from this location.
When traveling using actual expenses,
ALL
receipts must be saved to be reimbursed. If traveling under Per Diem,
no receipts need to be saved. An itinerary or meeting agenda is also proof that you actually
went.
Many international and domestic cities have
NMSU-approved meal rates; using this rate does not
require receipts. see Meal
tables
Foreign travel requires pre-approval by
ARC Business Manager. Domestic travel is identified as within the boundaries
of the United States.
Mileage rates for personal vehicles are listed and updated by NMSU Travel. Please use observatory vehicles when possible.
Employees can be reimbursed for airfare and registration
prior to the trip. See NMSU Travel for further information. Your airfare can also be purchased on a PCard after you have obtained a travel request approval. Please contact Beth (bmitchell/apo.nmsu.edu) or Deanna (dnaugle/apo.nmsu.edu) for more information.
Reimbursement
Vouchers
This NMSU form is
used to reimburse travel expenses or other pre-approved expenses incurred
by APO/NMSU staff only.
Complete form by hand and compute all
your expenses. Attach signed receipts and turn
in to Program Manager. NMSU is no longer accepting handwritten
copies and these must be typed.
You will receive the typed copy for your
signature; when signed, place in Site Operations Manager's mailbox for signature
approval. Make copies of your voucher and receipts; be sure your name is
printed clearly
on each signed receipt.
Foreign travel requires proof of currency
exchange rate for dates of travel and prior approval by ARC Business Manger.
Direct
Pay
Requests - non-APO personnel
Direct pay requests are issued to cover fees and
services for non-APO personnel, visitors, consultants, or technicians.
These are to be handled solely through the Site Operations Manager.
Please send an e-mail request with the same information as a purchase
request. Please see Program Manager for details and execution.
Receiving and Shipping
You can log shipments received
at APO in the logbook located in the Service area/Ops building (drawer under counter). If you sign
for it, you must notify the recipient.
Hazardous Materials: upon receipt,
notify APO Safety Officer, who will verify that the MSDS, proper storage, and
handling equipment is
available on site before releasing the materials to the buyer. It is recommended
that the MSDS be available prior to delivery to confirm handling equipment
is available.
UPS arrives around 11:30am; FedEx Ground and Air Express
arrive after lunch. If your vendor uses DHL, Airborne Express or other carrier,
advise them that they do not deliver to Sunspot, NM.
Use these steps when receiving your
items:
- check your items for damage;
- if there is damage, contact the vendor directly
and follow their procedures for exchange or return;
- if no damage is found, initial the packing
slip, indicate complete, the date received, and put in Program Manager's mailbox.
Prior to shipping your
items:
Shipping costs exceeding $200 requires prior
approval
from the Site Operations Manager.
Shipping costs under $200 may be made with an after-the-fact approval processed
through the Program Manager.
FEDEX AIR: FOR SAME DAY SHIPPING, HAVE YOUR PACKAGE ON THE COUNTER IN THE
SERVICE AREA NO LATER THAN 8:30AM SAME MORNING, READY FOR SHIPMENT; YOU MUST CONTACT SDSS BUYER TO ARRANGE PICKUP.
UPS: PICK-UPS ARE TUESDAY AND THURSDAYS ONLY
- use UPS when possible - APO has an established account; 2nd day air is available
outbound; overnight is not guaranteed. Complete the UPS shipping log as indicated
and leave on top of your package(s)
- you may establish an online account with UPS or FedEx using your personal
NMSU procurement card only; approvals must be processed according to procurement
card procedures.
- FedEx labels and packing materials are provided and are project-specific
(APO or SDSS)
- pack and label your package according to policies of
the shipping company
- be sure to carry enough insurance for loss or damage