- Small Order Options for End Users
- Purchasing Department Processes
- State Rules and Guidelines
- SFA Rules and Guidelines
State of Texas Rules and Guidelines
State of Texas rules and guidelines are mandatory for state agencies using state funds. Higher Education is exempt from some of these rules. Notation is made regarding the applicbility to higher education.
Stephen F. Austin State University purchasing guidelines are governed by
Texas Education
Code 51.9335 and University policies and procedures
approved by the University's Board of Regents.
Selection of Bidders
Higher Education is not required to utilize the State of Texas Centralized Master Bidders List (CMBL). However, Stephen F. Austin uses the CMBL as a first resource for locating HUB vendors and for supplementing bidders lists for items with which we are not familiar.
Vendors may register on-line for the TBPC CMBL.
The cost to register is $50 per year. HUB vendors may be included in the CMBL
database for no charge.
Commodity Codes
When registering for the CMBL, vendors are encouraged to carefully define the goods or services they provide through the selection of commodity codes. The TBPC has adopted the National Institute of Government Purchasing (NIGP) commodity codes.
The SFA Purchasing Department will be glad to assist any vendor in identifying commodity codes for your business.
Electronic State Business Daily
State agencies are required to post procurement opportunities of $25,000
or greater on the Texas Marketplace
Electronic State Business Daily. While Higher Education institutions are
not subject to this requirement, Stephen F. Austin, by University policy,
posts formal procurement opportunities of any value where value can be added
to the solicitation process.
Tax Warrant Hold Verification
All state agencies, including higher education, must verify a vendor's warrant hold status with the State of Texas Comptroller BEFORE issuing a contract. A vendor's warrant hold status is verified real-time through the State Comptroller's web-site. Information on this site confirms whether contracting with or payments to vendors are to be withheld due to delinquent payments owed to the State of Texas.
Vendors may visit the State
Comptroller's web-site and check their own status by entering their State
of Texas Taxpayer ID, Social Security Number, or Federal Employers ID. If
there is a problem, the vendor may contact the State Comptroller's office
to resolve warrant hold status; 800-252-5555 (sales tax) or 800-252-1381 (franchise
tax).
Historically Underutilized Business Program
All agencies, including higher education, are required to make a good faith effort to increase business with HUB vendors, regardless of the source of funds used for the procurement. Minority and woman owned businesses must be certified by the TBPC in order for state agencies to received HUB credit. HUB vendors are typically located in a search of the TBPC CMBL. There is no fee to be certified as a HUB or to be on the CMBL. Click here to see more information about the State and the University's HUB program.