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Frequently Asked Questions

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  1. How do I have a purchase order resent?
  2. Where can I find a tax-exempt certificate?
  3. Who is responsible for completing credit applications received from vendors?
  4. I'm having trouble logging in to iBuyNU, NUFinancials, etc. What should I do?
  5. What is the proper procedure if I have a contract that needs to be signed?
  6. What is the time frame between approval of a requisition and the creation of a purchase order?
  7. Where can I locate a W-9 form to be sent to a vendor?
  8. What is the procedure for entering a new vendor in the system?
  9. How do I make a change to a purchase order?
  10. How do I create or modify a ship to code?
  11. Where can I find the Conflict of Interest Form?
  12. Where can I find Purchasing and Payments training?
  13. How do I obtain an SSJ or BD form?

1. How do I have a purchase order resent?

Contact Procurement and Payment Services at procurement@northwestern.edu with your request. Make sure to include the PO number, vendor name and vendor fax number or email address.

2. Where can I find a tax-exempt certificate?

Procurement and Payment Services keeps information related to Northwestern’s tax-exempt status in Illinois as well as several other states on file. If a department/school needs proof of Northwestern’s tax-exempt status, please adhere to the following:

3. Who is responsible for completing credit applications received from vendors?

It is against University Policy to complete/sign any vendor forms. Forward any credit application requests to procurement@northwestern.edu. Procurement and Payment Services will send the necessary information directly to the vendor.

4. I’m have having trouble logging in to iBuyNU, NUFinancials, etc. What can I do?

For any financial management system related questions, please contact the Help Desk at 1-4357 or consultant@northwestern.edu.

5. What is the proper procedure if I have a contract that needs to be signed?

End users within departments/schools typically do NOT have the authority to sign ANY contracts or agreements with outside parties in the name of the University or one of its departments/schools.

Please review the Office of General Counsel’s “Contract Review Process" website for more information and guidance about the process for reviewing contracts and for the list of authorized signatories. As a reminder, DocuSign is available for campus wide use.

6. What is the time frame between approval of a requisition and the creation of a purchase order?

The system automatically sources all fully approved and budget checked requisitions into purchase orders every two hours (8am, 10am, 12pm, 2pm, 4pm, 6pm).  For example, if a requisition is created at 8:30am, approved and budget checked at 9am, it will be sourced into a Purchase Order and be sent to the vendor at 10am.

7. Where can I locate a W-9 form to be sent to a vendor?

Accounting Services handles all W-9 information. Contact Veronica Hudgins at 1-5337 or v-hudgins@northwestern.edu.

8. What it the procedure for entering a new supplier in the system?

New vendors can be added in NUFinancials under Navigator under Suppliers > Supplier Registration. For assistance, contact Vendor File Management at 1-4707.

9. How do I cancel or make a change to a purchase order?

Changes can be made to a PO in NUFinancial through Navigator > Purchasing > Purchase Orders > Add/Update POs.
Closing or canceling a PO can be done through NUFiancials> My Forms tile> Fill out new form > PO Change Request.
For assistance, contact Procurement and Payment Services at 1-8120 or procurement@northwestern.edu.

10. How do I create or modify a ship to code?

Please fill out the Ship to Request/Change Form (pdf). A complete list of active ship to codes (pdf) is also listed on this website. Email the completed form to procurement@northwestern.edu or fax to 847-467-5400.

11. Where can I find the Conflict of Interest Form?

Conflict of Interest Form

12. Where can I find Purchasing and Payments training?

Purchasing and Payments Module

13. How do I obtain a Sole Source Justification (SSJ) or Bid Document (BD) form?

For an SSJ or BD document, you will use the Purchasing Decision Documentation form (URL). This is an interactive form that populates a BD or SSJ upon completion. For assistance in completing the form, please reference the Purchasing Decision Documentation job-aid.