Printing Related Purchasing Procedure

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Policy

Long-standing, general policy directs that all printing work using university funds be directed to the printing department.

    Note: Printing Services has specified one exception to this policy: The National Capital Region (NCR) which includes graduate schools and research centers in Alexandria, Falls Church, Leesburg, Manassas, and Middleburg has been authorized to use a delegated printing procurement limit of $2,000 to purchase printing services from commercial vendors.
   
Printing Department Mission The printing department is a cost recovery auxiliary. Its mission is to provide reliable, high-quality, cost-effective printing service to the university. Reliability and quality are valued ahead of price, and should be viewed as the primary reason why Virginia Tech operates this service. Pricing is considered to be comparable to commercial sources.
   
Procedures

Forward all requests for printing services via an Interdepartmental Printing Request (IPR) to printing services (mail code 0243).

If printing lacks either the equipment to produce the work or the ability to meet the deadline, they will direct the work to a local commercial printer (under $2,000 in value) or co-ordinate with purchasing to have the job competitively bid. If the customer department is not in Blacksburg and the work is valued under $2,000, printing may grant a release and the department will arrange for local printing.

Because university policy grants the printing department the first right for printing work, it is not ethical to contact commercial printers for quotes or estimates until after a release has been obtained.

For further information, contact printing services at 231-6701.

Last Updated: February 24, 2004