Purchasing Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

Does WCPSS pay sales tax? Yes, we are required to pay North Carolina sales tax. The purchase order has a tax encumbrance of only 4.25 percent. Your invoice should reflect NC sales and use tax of 6.75 percent.

How can I get a list of commodities that are purchased and how can I find out who the buyer is for each commodity? The Purchasing staff directory lists the most often purchased commodities and the buyer responsible for those commodities. Questions regarding commodities may be directed to the buyer by email or phone.

How do I get on the WCPSS internal vendor list? To be added to the list, vendors must fill out the Vendor Application form.

What is WCPSS's purchasing policy?

• Make all purchases from the appropriate state term contract located at http://www.doa.state.nc.us/PandC/ or a Wake County Public School System established contract, whenever one exists.
• If an item is an open market purchase (a term contract does not exist) the following shall apply:
  • Purchases $2500 and greater, but less than $5000 require competition that may be obtained by the requestor.
  • Purchases $5,000 and greater must be bid by the Purchasing Department.
• Methods of purchase include purchase orders for items over $25, school local fund checking accounts and procurement cards for items up to $2,500 per transaction. All methods must follow the appropriate purchasing rules.

Contact

For assistance, contact the Purchasing Department.