The Low Value Purchase Authorization (LVPA) is a delegation of purchasing authority from the Director of Business Services to all campus departments and organized research units (ORUs). Individuals who have been given departmental authorization through the BFS Security Office within the Controller’s Office or the Procurement Card Program Office within Business Services may exercise the purchasing authority on behalf of the department for purchases below $5,000.

Authorized Department Buyers who perform business transactions under their LVPA do so as purchasing agents representing the University and the Regents. They must maintain and practice the highest standards of business ethics, observe applicable laws and policies, and avoid any conflict of interest. Authorized Department Buyers' responsibilities include placing orders by using Purchase Orders, or by using one of the Card Program cards, such as bluCard.

All transactions requiring a Purchase Order (PO) start in the
Berkeley Financial System (BFS) with the creation of the PO, by which the order is placed with the supplier, and against which the supplier shall invoice.

The BFS PO Approver is responsible for determining that the transaction is:

1. Properly approved
2. Reasonable, appropriate and allowable given the funding source
3. Compliant with laws, regulations and policies
4. Coded to the correct chartstring
5. Adequately documented
6. Processed timely

In addition, the BFS PO Approver is responsible for ensuring that funding is available to cover the expenditure.

Campus departments are delegated the authority to issue purchase orders at values up to $4,999.99. For some exceptions to this general rule, see the Restricted Items and Special Handling Items pages.

There are also supplier agreements which in most cases allow campus departments the authority to issue purchase orders whose value exceeds this general threshold. For more information on these agreements, access the Supplier Agreements icon on the right, and the Strategic Sourcing pages under the Procurement Services section (at left). Some of these commodities are also explored in the Buying Goods and Buying Services pages.

Department Buyers are strongly encouraged to:

• Utilize strategic sourcing agreements
• Use a diverse pool of suppliers, including small, minority, veteran and women owned businesses

A department buyer has the delegated authority to purchase materials, supplies, services, and repairs when these goods and services:

• Don't exceed $4,999.99, including tax on purchase orders
• Don't exceed $4,999.99, including tax, freight and handling on bluCard, if they are a cardholder
• Don't exceed $49,999.99 in accordance with certain systemwide agreement or campus contract terms and conditions for supplies and services (see Strategic Sourcing and Supplier Agreements for more information)
• Are not inventorial equipment
• Are not restricted items
• Don't require a signed vendor contract

The Office of Record responsibilities are split between the campus departments and Disbursements. Disbursements is the Office of Record for the invoice only. The departments are responsible for all authorizing and receiving documentation.

Violation of Authority

Department buyers who violate policy may be subject to disciplinary action including written warnings, mandatory training, loss of purchasing authority, probation, termination, and criminal prosecution.

The Director of Business Services may withdraw the delegation of the LVPA if a department is found to be in violation of the LVPA guidelines.

The Procurement Services Assessment Program periodically will evaluate your department's buying practices.

Always contact your Campus Buyer if you are unsure of your purchasing authority in a transaction. See the link below to find the Campus Buyer assigned to your department.