Vendor Relations / Fair Trade

Tufts' Purchasing Department is authorized to act on behalf of the university in all procurement matters. Those individuals, who are authorized holders of a Tufts University Procurement Card, are registered to use one of the university's on-line ordering systems, hold such specifically defined job responsibilities in Operations, or is otherwise authorized by our Purchasing Department to do so may place orders for the university. All other university employees are prohibited from committing university funds or acting as its agent in procurement matters.

All faculty and staff should observe the following with regard to vendor relations:

• Extend full primary consideration to the objectives and policies of the university.
  
• Strive to obtain the maximum value for each dollar of expenditure.
  
• Demand honesty in sales representation, whether offered through the medium of a verbal or written statement, an advertisement, or a sample of the product.
  
• Make reasonable efforts to arrive at an equitable and mutually beneficial agreement that is in the best interests of the university when settling any controversy with a supplier.
  
• Avoid activities that would denote the appearance of preferential treatment.
  

A "vendor" is any firm, corporation, company, or individual with whom the University presently, formerly, or potentially conducts business.

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