OGC 08/2010
Contract Processing and Approval Form Instructions
1. This form must be used with all contracts, agreements, memos of
understanding, commitment letters or other written instruments that may legally
obligate the University to pay money, take action or refrain from taking action.
Contracts are exempt from this requirement as set forth in UPP 1-06.
2. All contracts must be in the name of Marquette University and not in the name
of individual departments or employees.
3. The person initiating the request for contract approval should complete the form to
the best of his or her ability. Individuals with authority to obligate funds from the RC listed
must sign the Approval Form before submission to the Office of General Counsel for
contracts of $10,000 or less. The applicable Vice President, Senior Vice President,
Provost or President must sign the Approval Form before submission to the Office of
General Counsel for contracts in excess of $10,000.
4. Only a limited number of University personnel are authorized to sign contracts on
behalf of the University. Individuals who are unsure of their signatory authority should
reference http://www.marquette.edu/upp/documents/upp1-06.pdf .
5. The Office of the General Counsel has created several standard form contracts for
certain small, repetitive types of situations. The form contracts can be downloaded from
the Office of the General Counsel’s web site at
http://www.marquette.edu/pages/home/ogc/forms.
6. Attach a Bid Summary Form or a Non-Bid/Exception Form to the contract prior to
submission to the Vice President of Finance.
7. The contract signatory will return the contract to the initiating person unless
instructed otherwise. The initiating person is responsible for obtaining a signed contract
from the other party and maintaining a fully signed file copy in the indicated location.
Maintaining a file copy is very important in case of later questions or disputes. No contract
is valid unless and until the University has issued a purchase order for the amounts to be
paid under the contract. A copy of the signed contract must be sent to the Purchasing
department when the purchase order is entered. The Comptroller’s Office requires a
signed contract before honoring any Direct Invoice Vouchers or other check requests. All
payments to all suppliers require a completed Form W-9 also be submitted.
8. The Office of the General Counsel is available to all University personnel for
assistance with contract preparation and review.