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FAQs

Explore FAQs by Topic

Find frequently asked questions in the following categories or search all FAQs in the search field below.

90 Day Policy

  • Is 90-Day Policy applicable to all sources of University funds?
  • What if a department is disputing an invoice with a vendor and the dispute extends beyond 90 days?
  • Are personal reimbursements subject to the 90 day rule?

Approvals and Signatures

  • What is the time frame between approval of a requisition and the creation of a purchase order?
  • For my purchase over $100,000 the vendor has accepted Northwestern's standard PO Terms and Conditions. How do I communicate the vendor's acceptance to workflow approvers?

Checks

  • What if I have an emergency and need a check cut immediately?
  • What do I do if I lose a reimbursement check?
  • What time are checks ready for pick-up?

Contracted Services

  • What is the difference between a contracted service and an honorarium?
  • Why does the hiring manager need to sign the Contracted Services Form (CSF)?
  • How do I process a payment for a contracted service?

Contracts (SSO required)

  • What is the proper procedure if I have a contract that needs to be signed?
  • When is Office of General Counsel (OGC) review of an agreement required?
  • When do I need to contact subject matter experts (SMEs) for contract review?

Mail Services

  • How do I determine the shipping cost and transit time?
  • What do I need to do to send out a large mailing?
  • How do I include chargeback information in my outbound USPS mail?

Payment Requests

  • When do I use a "Payment Request" vs. a "Requisition/PO"?
  • How can I see if a Payment Request has been paid?
  • What happens if I forget to attach the necessary documentation to my Payment Request?

Policy and Form Documents

  • Who is responsible for completing credit applications received from vendors?
  • Where can I find a tax-exempt certificate?
  • How do I obtain a Sole Source Justification (SSJ) or Bid Document (BD) form?

Purchase Orders, Invoices and Requisitions

  • If I do not see an invoice posted in the system, should I resubmit it?
  • I need help reviewing a vendor’s PO terms and conditions for a purchase, what process should I follow?
  • What and is not is a receipt?

Reimbursements, Expense Reports and Credits

  • How long does it typically take to process an Expense Report request?
  • Where do I find the procedure for entering and submitting an expense?
  • How can I find the current rate for mileage reimbursement?

Rental Vehicles

  • Can I park the rental vehicle on campus?
  • My department needs to reserve a high volume of vehicles. Do I still need to use the online reservation link?
  • My department needs to rent a box truck. How do we make the reservation?

Ricoh Managed Print Services

  • What if my department has unique requirements and needs an MFD that is not one of the standard configurations?
  • Will there be an exception process around recommended device?
  • Do I need to self-associate my Wildcard with my NetID to print in Northwestern Print?