This page provides an overview of the purchasing and payment methods at Stanford. For more information on these methods, see Topic Overview: Purchasing and Payment Methods.
Purchasing Methods
| Method | Description |
|---|---|
| Amazon Business | Stanford’s business account with Amazon, available in iProcurement. All purchases will be assigned to a Stanford account (i.e., designated PTA and Expenditure Type) during checkout. |
| SmartMart Catalog Suppliers | Stanford's online catalog ordering system, available in iProcurement, which includes products offered from pre-negotiated suppliers. |
| SmartMart Contracts | Stanford’s system, available in iProcurement, for initiating contract requests for transactions that require a Stanford signature, including $0 agreements. |
| Non-Catalog Requisitions | For any purchases outside of the Amazon Business or SmartMart Catalog (including Contracts, which are initiated in SmartMart Contracts). This is the starting point for purchase orders. |
Payment Methods
| Method | Description |
|---|---|
| Digital Payments | Electronic payments directly to a recipient’s bank account initiated through the Expense Requests system. |
| Non-PO Payment (Direct Payment) | Payments through the Expense Request system that can pay for certain expenses directly. |
| Purchasing Cards (PCards) | University-paid credit cards used to make eligible purchases of $4,999 or less. |
| Travel Cards (TCards) | University-paid credit cards used only for eligible travel-related purchases. |
Reimbursement Methods
| Method | Description |
| Expense Report / Reimbursement | Through the Expense Request system, process reimbursements to employees and visitors for business and travel expenses. |
| Petty Cash | Departments can reimburse employees for out-of-pocket expenditures up to $100. |
| Travel Advance | Initiated through the Expense Request System to reimburse out-of-pocket travel expenses before the trip occurs. |
