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Purchase of Food/Food Items

There are only four conditions under which food and food items (including coffee, tea, donuts, bottled water and pastries) may be purchased and paid for from University funds. The conditions are

  • Fee must be collected from the specific workshop, seminar, or conference participants for which the food/food items were purchased;
  • The contract or grant terms must specifically spell out that it is permissible to purchase food and food items from the contract or grant in question;
  • Must be 100% student-sponsored functions such as dorm parties or club functions in which student activity fees are used to purchase food items; and,
  • Authorized UWF Concessions accounts: These funds are allocated for official University programs and require approval of the division/college head and the Vice President for University Relations and Development under applicable State University System standard practice.

Authorized UWF Concessions accounts: These funds are allocated for official University programs and require approval of the division/college head and the Vice President for University Advancement under applicable State University System standard practice. Purchase Requisitions for authorized fund purchases must be submitted in advance. The invoice submitted by the vendor must itemize the goods and/or services purchased. Charges for conference room and room set up charges must be itemized separately from food and food items. Tips, gratuities, State of Florida Sales Tax, and alcoholic beverages are not authorized - Exception: Meal gratuities not to exceed 20% are allowed on Concession and Athletic Funds. See University of West Florida Expenditure Guidelines.

Food and food items purchased or ordered by University personnel that are not covered under one of the above four conditions will be considered a personal obligation of the individual making the purchase.


Processing Your Food Request

A firm quote is required to avoid cutting more than one check or requiring a cash refund when the amount is lower than anticipated. If the vendor requires payment upon delivery, those terms should be stated on the quote. Always let the vendor know that UWF is Tax Exempt when placing the food order for delivery or pickup. You can go to the Procurement Web Page and print out the Consumer's Certificate of Exemption:

  • For amounts less than $1,000, submit a Direct Pay Request to Accounts Payable.

The department must provide a firm quote (to include any discounts, delivery charges, etc.) from the vendor; for example, 100 pizzas @ $5.00 each. The quote can be provided by the vendor in the form of a fax, email, or documented phone conversation.

If the vendor requires payment upon delivery, include the following short statement in the Requisition “Item Text” area:

Check Request

Check Must Be Cut By ____________ (Date)

For Delivery of Food Items

Call (Include Area Code) (###) ###-####)  ____________ When Check is Ready For Pick-up

Procurement will forward the pertinent information to Accounts Payable to issue a check. Accounts Payable will contact the department when the check is ready for pickup.