At UCSD, you can purchase supplies and services in a variety of ways. What you want to buy determines the method you use.

The Low Value Purchase process is a convenient way for departments to purchase goods and services. Click the links below to read more about the three different low value methods of purchase.

• Department Order or Low Value Purchase Order (LVPO) is used by department buyers to buy most routine, low-dollar supplies and services that cost less than $2,500 including tax, freight, and handling. Authorized department buyers place Department Orders through FinancialLink.
• Express Card is UCSD's procurement card. It provides department buyers a way to purchase and pay for routine low dollar cost products and services normally dealt with by processing Department Orders, requests for personal reimbursements, blanket purchase order releases, and petty cash transactions.
• Express Order is a method for obtaining supplies and services from designated vendors by telephone or custom, secured Web sites. Express Order eliminates the need for purchase orders or invoices.

Note: You can't use Department Order, Express Card or Express Order to purchase equipment or certain restricted items.

A High Value Purchase Order issued by a professional buyer is required for all purchases with a value greater than $2,500, equipment, or items restricted from using the Low Value process.

• The High Value Purchase Requisition is the way you relay the information about your desired purchase to a professional buyer. It contains all of the necessary information the buyer needs to make the purchase and commit the funds that will pay for the purchase.
• The professional buyer will use the information on the High Value Purchase Requisition to execute a High Value Purchase Order (HVPO). Complete the High Value Purchase Requisition through FinancialLink.

Recharge process: Some UCSD department sell goods and services to other departments through the Recharge process. This requires the use of an index and assigns the charges directly to the ledger of the department making the purchase.

For a list of many or these departments, see Departments Offering Goods and Services Through Recharge

Questions? Contact Purchasing, (858) 534-3084.