The Purchasing Department is not a marketing representative of any vendor. Vendors must determine whether their products or services can directly or indirectly support the colleges and department.

If your product directly supports instruction or research in a particular field, your prospective customers would probably learn about your products from trade shows, trade publications, advertising, direct contact by you or personal contacts within their specialized community.

LSCS employs a number of people who perform professional services. However, a department may need specialists (individual or company) for a specific purpose that cannot be performed by internal personnel, e.g. development of a unique software program, a specialized executive search or market survey, etc. Departments generate requirements for professionals with unique talent or experience and identify the individual or firm needed. For those types of services, your best contact is the college or department that may require your specific professional services.

LSCSs professors, instructors, researchers and administrators are knowledgeable about what they want. It is customary for a department representative to research products and services (including costs) before sending a requisition to the Purchasing Department. If your product directly satisfies a need in instruction or research your marketing effort must address this fact.

The Purchasing Department uses various types of orders to acquire products and services from outside sources, including purchase orders, blanket orders, and change orders. The source of funds determines in part the rules that apply to the purchase. The dollar threshold at which formal bids are required is higher for local funds than it is for state funds.