Procurement Card (PCard) Program
The Procurement Card (PCard) program provides PIs and other designated staff with a more efficient means of making routine purchases by reducing paperwork and waiting time, allowing more purchasing responsibility and control at the department and project levels, and streamlining the purchasing cycle for frequent and routine purchases. SDSU Research Foundation PCards are Visa cards issued by US Bank (USB). The PCards are “corporate liability” cards, assigned by USB to the employee, but are issued in the name of and on behalf of SDSU Research Foundation.
Spending Profiles:
Three spending profiles have been established. Cardholders are assigned to a profile based upon business needs and requirements and upon approval of the PI, SR grant specialist and/or SDSU Research Foundation director.
| Spend Profile | Single Transaction Limit | Monthly Transaction Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Profile 1 | $1,000 | $5,000 |
| Profile 2 | $3,500 | $10,000 |
| Profile 3 | $4,999 | $20,000 |
The Procurement Card Program Policy and Procedure (PDF Format, 492KB)* provides more information and greater detail on the PCard program. If, after reviewing this information, you believe the PCard provides a benefit to your project, department, or grant/contract, contact your SR grant specialist to determine your eligibility.
The use of the PCard is one of three acceptable methods for the procurement of goods and services. Refer to Section Purchasing information for purchases using the purchase requisition process and Section Miscellaneous Expense Reimbursement for purchases using personal funds or credit cards.
The PCard program is meant to be a supplement to purchasing methods already in place, and is not intended as an overall replacement or as a means to circumvent purchasing guidelines and requirements.
*Note: Documents in Portable Document format (PDF) require Adobe Acrobat Reader 9.0 or higher to view. Download Adobe Acrobat Reader