10.02 Contracts and Agreements
Purpose:
Delegate authority and responsibility for the review and approval of contracts
and agreements.
Policy Statement:
Division heads have general authority to approve agreements and contracts
including delegation of such authority to account fiscal officers within
their divisions. Thisauthority excludes certain high dollar equipment purchases;
capital improvement and remodeling projects; real estate purchases; lease
purchases or leases of buildings, office or work spaces and equipment; architect
or engineer services; fire protection; legal services and any agreement
which includes financing arrangements.
Contracts or agreements that contain financing arrangements must be reviewed
and accepted by the Controller’s office.
Appropriate review and coordination of contracts and agreements are the
responsibility of the authorizing fiscal officer. (See Procedure below)
A copy of all final agreements/contracts must be retained in the respective
administrative office in accordance with the UNI record retention policy
and copies must be provided to the Controller's Office.
Procedure:
Personnel with fiscal officer authority for university accounts are presumed
to have the authority to approve University contracts and agreements directly
relating to their respective accounts area per the policy stated above unless
the division head withdraws this authority in writing with copies forwarded
to Purchasing and the Controller’s Office.
All contracts, grant agreements, memorandums of agreement, simple letters
of agreement, and/or other similar documents committing the University or
one of its units, must receive advance review by the University Counsel.
Certain exemptions to this advance review are authorized below.
(1) Agreements relating to UNI Foundation matters and Grants and Contracts
handled by the Grants and Contracts Office.
(2) A UNI Professional Services Contract or other form which has been
pre-approved by the University Counsel and Office of the Vice President
for Administration and Finance may be used to contract a performance by
an independent contractor (e.g., a speaker or performer) or similar situation
for a performance period of less than one week and dollar cost of $1000
or less. The University's Payroll Manager may review such agreements or
related payment vouchers to insure compliance with tax laws and UNI policies
relating to independent contractors.
(3) Other agreements or contracts may be entered into when standard forms
have been approved by the University Counsel and Office of the Vice President
for Administration and Finance (e.g., UNI-Dome Lease Agreement, Use of
Facilities Agreement -Conferences and Visitor Services).
(4) Other exemptions to the advance review requirement may be authorized
by the University Counsel and Office of the Vice President for Administration
and Finance under specific circumstances.
Additional information or assistance:
Bidding procedures for goods and services: UNI Purchasing Policies and
Procedures or Purchasing.
General legal: University Counsel
Sponsored programs: Grants and Contracts Administrator (Graduate College
Office)
Insurance: Office of the VP Administration and Finance
Financing arrangements and terms: Controller’s Office
Office of the Vice President Administration and Finance Approved, 10/29/98
President’s Cabinet Approved, Date 11/29/99 | 
