There are several phases involved when conducting a purchase, beginning with the identification of a need to purchase goods or services and initiating a requisition through the receipt and payment of those goods or services. As fiscal stewards for Lone Star College, determining “best value” should be the ultimate goal.

LSC Purchasing Process

The traditional steps involved in a purchase include:

• Identify a need to buy goods or services
• Verify budget is available
• The purchasing method is determined by the value of the purchase (dollar thresholds)
• Requestors/approvers process an electronic requisition or a contract in the iStar System
• The transaction is electronically routed to the assigned Commodity Manager
• The Commodity Manager reviews the information and issues a Purchase order to the Supplier
• The goods or services are received by the requestor
• Invoices are sent to the Accounts Payable Department and paid upon verification
• Purchasing discrepancies are resolved by the Commodity Manager, the Supplier and our requestors

Purchasing Policies and Procedures

View our Purchasing Policies and Procedures

"No Gift" Policy

Lone Star College (“LSC or the College”) employees are not allowed to accept gifts from vendors. This includes paying for meals. 

If you customarily send a token of appreciation to your customers during the holiday season, the College asks that you please not send any item to LSC employees or offices.  

There are many worthy organizations in our community that would be happy to receive such items, and will be able to see that they go to people in need. Your assistance is appreciated.

One Card Policies

Lone Star College System (LSCS) utilizes the Procurement Card (One Card) Program for small-dollar transactions (under $5,000), as well as for travel expenses, as outlined in the One Card procedure.

Issuance:

One Cards are issued to requestors upon receiving approval from the employee’s supervisor.

Usage:

Requestors may use a One Card to order and pay for goods at the time of purchase. However, employees who use the One Card must also submit a reconciliation of all charges. This step is essential to ensure that those charges are recorded as expenses within the appropriate budget. It is important to complete the reconciliation process promptly to provide accurate and up-to-date budget information.

Prohibited Purchases:

The following items cannot be purchased using a One Card:

• Personal expenses (e.g., fuel, alcoholic beverages, ATM cash withdrawals, personal gifts)
• Toner cartridges
• Staples/VWR purchases
• Services
• Software/hardware (requires prior approval from OTS)

Note:

All software and hardware purchases must be approved in advance by the Office of Technology Services (OTS).

Approved Purchasing Cooperatives

In addition to our competitively bid contracts, we also utilize vendor contracts that have been awarded through approved purchasing cooperatives. When procuring goods or services using a purchasing cooperative contract, request that the vendor reference the applicable contract on their quote and that the provisions of the contract are included.

• 1GPA
• 791Coop
• BuyBoard
• Choice Partners
• Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR)
• E&I Cooperative Services
• EPIC6
• GoodBuy
• GSA eBuy
• HGACBuy
• National Cooperative Purchasing Alliance (NCPA)
• Omnia Partners
• PACE
• Purchasing Solutions Alliance (PSA)
• Sourcewell
• Southeast Texas Purchasing Cooperative (SETX)
• TexBuy
• TIPS USA
• TxSmartBuy