Washington State University
BUSINESS POLICIES AND PROCEDURES MANUAL

PURCHASING
70.32
New 2-08
Travel Services
335-2034

Renting Non-Public Facilities for Meetings

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OVERVIEW

This section provides policies and procedures for renting or leasing non-state or other non-public facilities for official University purposes. Such purposes may include University conferences, conventions, meetings, and training sessions. Non-state and non-public facilities include facilities operated by entities other than state, local, or federal governments.

Applicability

These polices and procedures apply to all conferences, conventions, meetings, and training sessions held or sponsored by any University unit in non-state or other non-public facilities.

This section does not apply to conferences, conventions, meetings, and training sessions attended by University personnel but not hosted or sponsored by the University.

This section does not apply to the long-term leasing of non-state facilities. Refer to 20.45 for real estate procedures.

Public Preference

When selecting venues for meetings or conferences, the University is to give first preference to locations at University-owned, state-owned, or other publicly-owned facilities. (SAAM 10.10.55)

Barrier Free

Meetings and conferences held in non-state or non-public locations and sponsored by the University are to be barrier free in accordance with state regulations. Refer to SAAM 50.50.

REQUEST PROCEDURE

The person responsible for the choice of location and facilities is to submit a request in writing to the responsible dean or equivalent administrative officer. The request is to include:

Submittal Deadlines

The requester is to submit the request to the dean or equivalent administrative officer at least five days prior to the event. If an agreement for leasing or renting the facility is to be negotiated, the requester submits the request and receives approval prior to negotiating the contract with the vendor.

Retention of the Request

The approved request document is retained by the department in the associated vendor payment file. See 90.01.

PAYMENT OR REIMBURSEMENT

If the request is approved by the administrator, the department processes the payment.

A department may directly pay the vendor or reimburse an employee for incurred expenses.

Requesting Reimbursement

If an employee personally pays for the facility:

Submit a request for reimbursement to the Travel Services division of the Controller's Office. Include the following documents:

Complete a Travel Expense Voucher instead of the Invoice Voucher if the employee was in travel status. See 95.20.

Direct Payment

The department may pay a vendor directly using one of the following procedures:

Department Order

Complete a Department Order. Follow procedures in 70.07.

Departmental Requisition

Complete a Departmental Requisition prior to the event. (Purchasing generates a Purchase Order which is given to the vendor.) Follow procedures in 70.10.

Vendor's Invoice

Obtain an invoice for the facility from the vendor. If the vendor's address and name is not on the invoice, complete a State of Washington Invoice Voucher and obtain the vendor's signature on the form. A University purchasing form is not required for this procedure.

Submit the vendor's invoice to Travel Services. Add the coding of the supporting account. A University employee with expenditure authority for the supporting account must sign the invoice. (See 70.02 for an explanation of expenditure authority.)

NOTE: The total cost may not exceed the current purchasing bid limit. See 70.13.