Procurement Card Policy
EFFECTIVE DATE: MARCH 1, 2016
RESPONSIBLE OFFICER: Associate Vice President of Procurement Services
PURPOSE
A. The purpose of this Procurement Card Policy (this “Policy”) is to provide structure, limits and
accountability in the use of a Procurement Card.
B. It is a privilege to have a Procurement Card (P-Card), and possession comes with specific
requirements and responsibilities. This privilege will be revoked if these requirements and
responsibilities are not satisfied. This Policy provides substantial consequences for violating
Policy requirements.
C. Procurement Cards provide a convenient, efficient and managed approach for appropriate small
dollar purchasing transactions. A Procurement Card is offered to the Cardholder to ease their
administrative burdens related to Allowable Purchases.
D. This Policy lays out allowable uses of a Procurement Card and articulates responsibilities of
Cardholders, Approvers and Budget Owners.
E. This Policy also provides structure around routine audits that will be conducted to ensure proper
oversight to the program.
SCOPE
For the purpose of this Policy, “University” refers to Drexel University and its colleges, schools, divisions,
subsidiaries and affiliates. All University trustees, officers, faculty, staff, students and consultants are
subject to this Policy.
DEFINITIONS
A. Allowable Purchases: Those purchases listed in Section (A) (1) below.
B. Approver: An employee designated by a Budget Owner who is responsible for approval of
transactions and statements on a particular P-Card(s). The Approver is responsible for ensuring
the Cardholders they approve are complying with P-Card Policy.
C. Audit: The review of a Cardholder’s monthly statement by the P-Card Office to ensure
compliance with this Policy.
D. Budget Owner: A dean, department head, director or vice president who is directly responsible
for a University budget.
E. Cardholder: A University employee whose name appears on a Procurement Card and who is
responsible/accountable for all charges made with that specific P-Card.
F. Consequence: Specific penalties or actions that may be taken by Procurement Services as
outlined in Section O to increase assurance of compliance to this Policy.
G. Guidelines: The P-Card Guidelines (drexel.edu/procurement/makingPurchases/pcard/).
H. Monthly Cycle: A designated period of time in which a P-Card is utilized for making
Allowable Purchases.
I. Monthly Reconciliation: The process for reviewing each Transaction within the Monthly Cycle,
by assigning appropriate fund, organization, account code and providing clear detailed notes.
J. Procurement Card (P-Card): A purchasing tool issued by University Procurement Services
exclusive for authorized business expenditures.
K. P-Card Limits: The specific dollar amounts allowed for an individual card Transaction as well as
the monthly total allowed during a Monthly Cycle.
L. Stringing/Splitting: Where a single purchase is broken into multiple transactions to intentionally
circumvent individual P-Card transaction limits.
M. Transaction: A single purchase or a credit.
POLICY
A. Allowable Purchases
1. The P-Card is to only be used when the good or service needed is not available through
the Smart Source Marketplace, is for a legitimate business need, falls under the P-Card
Limits and is not otherwise restricted by existing policies (“Allowable Purchases”). The
following list represents items that are Allowable Purchases for P-Cards. The list is not
exhaustive but provides commonly purchased items that are Allowable Purchases.
i. Conference and Seminar Registrations;
ii. Non-capital equipment (but excluding computers);
iii. Dues, memberships, licenses, application fees;
iv. Airline, hotel, bus, rail, rental car and meals for University related business
travel;
v. Books, publications, periodicals, subscriptions, newsletters, videos;
vi. Interlibrary loans to external libraries; and
vii. Meals and entertainment for business purposes, including incidental purchases
of alcohol in connection therewith.
B. Prohibited Purchases
1. Use of a P-Card for non-Allowable Purchases is prohibited. The following list provides
guidance in determining what types of purchases are prohibited from Procurement
Card. It is the responsibility of the Cardholder and Approver to assure that all purchases
made with the Procurement Card are Allowable Purchases.
i. Any product that is available through the Smart Source marketplace;
ii. Gift Cards;
iii. Personal charges of any kind;
iv. Hotel incidentals;
v. Gasoline for personal vehicles;
vi. Furniture;
vii. Computers;
viii. Cash advances or cash withdrawals;
ix. Faculty clubs;
x. Cell phones;
xi. Any purchase that requires a separately signed contract or agreement unless
specifically authorized by Procurement Services;
xii. Sponsorships and Donations: See Drexel’s Policy Regarding sponsorship of
External Non-Profit Organizations
(drexel.edu/treasurer/about/policies/external-non-profit-policy/);
xiii. Any purchase that has to be installed, hard-wired, plumbed or assembled;
xiv. Purchases with a potential risk or exposure to liability for the University such as
items that present special health, safety, occupational or environmental risks
(e.g., radioactive material, animals, controlled substance, ammunition, etc.);
and
xv. Stringing/Splitting.
C. Card Limits
1. The Associate Vice President of Procurement Services sets P-Card Limits. These limits
include single Transaction, Transactions per Monthly Cycle and total spend per Monthly
Cycle. Current P-Card Limits can be found in the Guidelines.
2. Regardless of the maximum limits allowed, specific limits will be established by the
Budget Owner for each Cardholder based on reasonable and normal requirements and
should be set at the lowest level possible that will satisfy those needs. It is the
responsibility of the Budget Owner and Approver to recommend adjustments to the
allowed limits for those Cardholders under their hierarchy.
3. Actual usage will be periodically reviewed by the P-Card office and may be adjusted at
any time based on actual need.
D. For staff business lunches, hosting retreats and/or other similar events, the senior-most level
Cardholder must utilize their P-Card for expenses in order to appropriately track these business
expenses. Splitting these bills among multiple Cardholders is not allowed and would constitute
Stringing/Splitting.
E. If the Cardholder is on extended leave (Sabbatical, FMLA or personal leave) it is the
responsibility of the Approver to notify the P-Card Office immediately, and the P-Card will be
placed on temporary suspension until Cardholder returns to work.
F. Termination: Upon a Cardholder’s termination of employment or transfer to another position in
the University, the P-Card must be cancelled within 48 hours. It is the responsibility of the Approver to
notify the P-Card Office. If a transfer occurs within the University and a P-Card is still needed, a new
application must be completed.
G. Responsibilities of Cardholders:
1. Ensure purchases are made only for University-related business;
2. Abide by this Policy and Guidelines;
3. Successfully complete required training and re-training;
4. Provide the proper account information and business purpose for each Transaction;
5. Maintain the security of the Procurement Card at all times and immediately report a
lost, stolen or compromised card to JP Morgan Customer Service, 800.270.7760, the
Approver, and P-Card Office (pcard@drexel.edu);
6. Obtain and keep original receipts for each Transaction. If an original detailed receipt is
lost, then the Cardholder must reach out to the merchant to obtain a duplicate detailed
receipt. If the Cardholder is not successful with obtaining a duplicate receipt they are to
complete the missing receipt form (drexel.edu/procurement/about /forms/). This form
also requires a signature from a Budget Owner;
7. Ensure that sales tax is not charged in states where the University is exempt;
8. Prepare the monthly Transaction Allocation Report and supporting documentation for
each Transaction; and
9. Submit Transaction Allocation Report to Approver for review and signature;
10. Forward completed and approved Transaction Allocation Report to pcard@drexel.edu
by the deadline.
H. Responsibilities of Approvers:
1. Abide by this Policy and the Guidelines;
2. Successfully complete training and retraining requirements as outlined in the
Guidelines;
3. Review in detail the Transactions of Cardholders assigned to them and make
adjustments to accounting codes and transaction notes when needed;
4. Assure that each Transaction meets the requirements of this Policy and any other
applicable policy;
5. Affirm each month that all statements and details are complete, compliant and on time;
and
6. Ensure that sales tax is not charged to the Cardholder in states where the University is
exempt;
7. Assure that P-Cards are collected from employees that are terminating for any reason or
transferring to another department in accordance with Section (J) below and ensure
that all reconciliation and Transaction Allocation Reports have been completed as part
of the employee exit interview.
8. Approve and Sign the Cardholder’s Transaction Allocation Report; and
9. Immediately report abuse or misuse to pcard@drexel.edu.
I. Responsibilities of Budget Owner:
1. Approve the P-Card Application Form;
2. Set appropriate transaction limits;
3. Ensure that Cardholders and Approvers are aware of all P-Card policies, guidelines, and
timetables;
4. Provide sufficient oversight and review to assure compliance of all Cardholders and
Approvers.
J. Approving P-Card applications and roles within the College or Department:
1. All applications for a P-Card must be approved by the Budget Owner of the College or
Department.
2. Assignment of roles within the P-Card program are made by the Budget Owner of the
College or Department.
K. Exceptions to P-Card Limits:
1. When it is determined that the University interest would be best served, an exception to
P-Card Limits may be granted by the Associate Vice President of Procurement Services
or his/her designee.
2. Such exception must be properly documented including the business need satisfied
through the exception.
L. Sales Tax Exemption – The University is tax exempt and should not pay sales tax in Pennsylvania
and select other states. For a complete listing and copies of certificates, go to
(drexel.edu/procurement/makingPurchases/pcard/restrictions/). Tax exemption may only be
used with the use of a P-Card. The tax-exempt number and certificates may not be used for
personal purchase at any time, even if the purchase may be reimbursable by the University.
1. The University’s PA tax-exempt number is on the front of each P-Card. The Cardholder is
responsible for ensuring that sales tax is not charged at the time of purchase.
2. If sales tax is charged by mistake, the Cardholder is responsible for taking reasonable
measures to have the tax credited.
3. This tax exemption does not apply in all states, but it is the responsibility of the
Cardholder to take the exemption whenever allowed.
4. Additional information on sales tax exemption can be obtained by contacting the Tax
Office at taxoffice@drexel.edu.
M. Audits
1. The P-Card Office will conduct regular, random Audits of Cardholders.
2. If findings result from these Audits, the following will apply:
i. A response will be required from the Cardholder addressing each finding
including steps to be taken to assure future compliance; and
ii. A follow-up Audit will be conducted within 6 months to assure that corrective
measures have been put in place.
3. Failure to comply with Audits in any way will result in the immediate suspension of all
affected P-Cards until compliance is achieved.
N. Consequences
1. Having a P-Card requires strict adherence to this Policy and Guidelines.
2. When violations of the Policy and Guidelines are identified, Consequences will occur.
3. These Consequences are created with the intention of encouraging compliance to the
Policy, and may include suspension and eventual cancellation of P-Card privileges and
other disciplinary action.
4. Specific Consequences for P-Card misuse or non-compliance are found in the Guidelines.
5. It is the responsibility of the Cardholder, Approver and Budget Owner to understand and
properly use and administer this program.