1. Purchase -- an acquisition of commodities or services obtained by contract, whether by rent, lease, installment or lease purchase or outright purchase. The following are not purchases:
   1. Transfer, sale or exchange of personal property or services between governmental agencies;
   2. Commodities purchased for resale to the general public as outlined in Section 287.012, except Class B printing;
   3. Utilities; or,
   4. Public communications, i.e., telephone, telegraph, but not including private communications systems for internal institutional use.
      
2. Contractual Service -- The rendering by a contractor of its time and effort rather than the furnishing of specific commodities. The term applies only to those services rendered by individuals and firms who are independent contractors, and such services may include, but are not limited to, evaluations, consultations, maintenance, accounting, security, management systems, management consulting, educational training programs, research and development studies or reports on the findings of consultants engaged there under, and professional, technical and social services.
   
3. Class B Printing -- Any mechanical process in which ink is transferred to paper, except internal xerographic reproductions which may be circulated to or used by the general public. Licensee Information.
   
4. Construction -- Construction means the building, altering, improving, repair, or demolishing of any real property owned or leased by the University.
   
5. Contract -- Any agreement or purchase order for the purchase or disposal of commodities or services.
   
6. Emergency Purchase -- The immediate purchase of commodities or services caused by a sudden, unexpected turn of events beyond the control of the University involving public health, welfare, safety, injury, or loss.
   
7. Formal Bid -- A sealed offer for commodities or services on a form provided by the University with the title, date, hour, and location of the public bid opening designated. The form will include printed instructions prescribing general rules for bidding and provide for a manual signature of the vendor's authorized representative.
   
8. Informal Bid -- A written or verbal quotation for commodities or services not requiring a public opening at a specific date and time.
   
9. Formal Request for Proposal -- A sealed proposal for commodities or services including the title, date, hour, and location of the public opening. The Request for Proposal shall include printed instructions prescribing all general rules and provide for a manual signature of the vendor's authorized representative.
   
10. Competitive Bids -- Two or more valid responses to a bid invitation.
    
11. Sole Source Purchase -- A purchase of a commodity or a service that is non-competitive in price, specifications, or use; "only source".
    
12. Term Contract -- A contract to furnish an indefinite quantity of an item or items or contractual services during a prescribed period of time.
    
13. Definite Quantity Contract -- A contract to furnish a specific quantity of an item or items at a specified price and time. The contract is fulfilled by delivery and acceptance of the specific quantity at the University, on such place designated in the contract.
    
14. Valid Response -- A responsive offer in full compliance with bid specifications and conditions.
    
15. Business -- Any corporation, partnership, individual, sole proprietorship, joint stock company, joint venture or any other private legal entity which has commodities and/or services available under specifications required by the University.
    
16. Identical (Tie) Bids -- Two or more bids which are equal in all respects as to price, quality and service.
    
17. Mutuality of Management -- Only the low bid submitted by firms mutually owned or managed may be considered in determining an award.
    
18. Minority Business Enterprises -- Any legal entity as defined in Section 2(2), Florida Small and Minority Business Assistance Act of 1985 (Chapter 85-104, Laws of Florida).
    
19. Minority Person --A lawful permanent resident of Florida as defined in Section 2(3), Florida Small and Minority Business Assistance Act of 1985 (Chapter 85-104, Laws of Florida).
    
20. Domiciled -- The state in which a business has its principal place of business and, as it relates to corporation, the state under whose laws the corporation was formed.
    
21. Lawful Permanent Resident -- A person whose true, fixed and permanent home is located in Florida and to which, whenever the person is absent, the person has the intention of returning.
    
22. Small Business -- An independently owned and operated business concern as defined in Section 2(1), Florida Small and Minority Business Assistance Act of 1985 (Chapter 85-104, Laws of Florida).
    
23. Minority Enterprise Assistance Officer -- A senior level employee responsible for overseeing the minority business enterprise utilization activities for the purchase of commodities, contractual services and minor construction.
    
24. Contractor -- Any person or firm contracting to provide commodities or services to the University.
    
25. May -- Denotes the permissive.
    
26. Shall -- Denotes the imperative.
    
27. Person -- Any business, individual, union, committee, club, or group of individuals.
    
28. Department -- A budget entity which has been assigned a departmental account number by the University.
    
29. Categories -- Purchasing thresholds which govern the procedures to be used in state purchasing. Thresholds are designated as categories One through Five, and are subject to annual adjustments by the Department of Management Services.
    
30. Limited Purchase Order (LPO) -- A blank, encumbered and unassigned purchase order which is completed at the point of purchase; usually used to facilitate the acquisition of smaller goods and services at FAU.

Send comments to Ed Schiff, schiff@fau.edu

Updated March 2006 by Dianne Parkerson