Commodity Codes

Understand commodity codes, including how and why UCSD uses them.

A commodity code is used on a Department Order or High Value Purchase Requisition to provide a standardized, general description of the goods or services being purchased. It is a tool to classify items, and it allows the university to track its spending by category.

UCSD relies upon the department buyers to carefully select the correct commodity code for each purchase made. If you're having trouble choosing a commodity code, contact the appropriate procurement specialist.

Commodity codes are organized into major groups:

• Advertising, catering, meetings
• Computers, peripherals, software and services
• Equipment
• Health and safety
• Laboratory, marine, medical, and research
• Maintenance, supplies, repairs and services
• Office and administrative costs
• Other operating costs
• Rentals

Within the major groups are more specific catagories of goods and services. For example:

Commodity codes are used on a Department Order to:

• Provide a generic description of the purchase
• Ensure the goods or services are appropriate for the low value purchase process
• Assign the correct account code

Commodity codes are used on a High Value Purchase Requisition to:

• Provide a generic description of the purchase
• Determine to which professional buyer the request should be assigned
• Assign the correct account code

Many commodity codes can be used on both Department Orders and High Value Requisitions, but certain commodity codes are not available for use on Department Orders. You must request these restricted items through the procurement specialists in the Purchasing Department using a High Value Purchase Requisition. A few examples of commodities not allowed on Department orders are:

• Purchases involving a written agreement or contract
• Items defined as inventorial equipment
• Gifts and awards
• Personal services
• Travel and entertainment
• Controlled substances and radioactive materials

Each commodity code has one default account code associated with it, but it can also have one or more alternate account codes. When you select the commodity code appropriate for your purchase, you can use the default account code or select one of the approved alternates.

For a more complete explanation of the link between commodity and account codes, see How Account Codes Relate to Commodity Codes.

For a general listing of items that are allowed on Department Orders, see What You Can Buy on Department Order. You can find a complete list of restricted items at Items Restricted From Department Order.

To learn which procurement specialist is responsible for a particular commodity, see the Listing of Procurement and Contract Specialists by Commodity.

For more information on commodity codes:

• Check an Alphabetical List of Commodity Codes with their corresponding account codes.
• Download a current list of commodity codes (Excel) with their default and alternate account codes.

Buy & Pay

Purchase Orders

• Department Order
• How to View
• High Value Purchase Requisition
• Commodity Codes
  • How Account Codes Relate to Commodity Codes