Background: The Procurement & Contracts division of Business and Financial Services (BFS) fosters and promotes fair and ethical business practices while acting in the best interest of the University of California and the people of the State of California. This includes adhering to a strict code of ethics.

If you are a department buyer with delegated authority to purchase goods and services for UCSD, you are expected to adhere to the Purchasing Code of Ethics:

• First, give consideration to UCSD's mission and Principles of Community.
• Obtain maximum value for each dollar spent.
• Decline personal favors, gifts, and gratuities.
• Grant all competitive suppliers fair and equal consideration.
• Conduct business with potential and current suppliers in an atmosphere of good faith.
• Demand honesty in sales representation.
• Receive consent of originator for use of proprietary ideas and designs.
• Make reasonable effort to obtain equitable settlement of any controversy with a supplier.
• Accord a prompt and courteous response to all who call on legitimate business.
• Foster fair, ethical, and legal business practices.
• Protect the University's interest by ensuring suppliers honor all terms of their contracts.

The Office of the President, Purchasing Services ensures that the university policy on ethics is circulated to all campuses. Each department chair/ head must make this policy available to all department business officers and staff having authority to conduct business on behalf of the university. Procurement & Contracts' responsibility is to foster and promote fair and ethical business practices and provide assistance in support of the policy.

Questions? Contact Linda Collins, Director, Procurement & Contracts, (858) 534-3082.