Types of Purchasing Methods
- Workday
- Procard
- Capital Projects
Workday
Workday is the approved method of purchasing at the University of Washington.
See Requisitioners User Guides for detailed information regarding the Workday Procurement process.
Machinery & Equipment (M&E) Tax Exempt Orders
M&E equipment purchases are only permitted using pre-approval process. Methods such as Supplier Invoice Request and Procard are not eligible for the M&E Tax Exemption.
Procard (Procurement Card)
Process exception pre-approval required to use for Capital Equipment
Capital equipment should be purchased via the standard Requisition process in Workday from University of Washington approved suppliers. See Requisitioners User Guides .
Workday does not support acquisition of capital equipment via Procurement Card.
In rare cases, exception to the standard capital equipment requisition process may be requested in advance to use Procurement Card to purchase capital equipment. However, it is an inefficient manual workaround process requiring pre-approval outside of Workday. All Procurement and Merchant Services policies, requirements, and exclusions for the use of Procurement Cards also apply.
Additional Equipment exclusions for Procurement Card
Procurement cards cannot be used for
- Equipment with M&E tax exemptions
- Composite assets
- Multicomponent assets
- Complex asset assemblies
- Equipment with installment payment plans
To request an exception to use Procurement Card to purchase capital equipment email eio@uw.edu, with the following:
- Equipment description
- Supplier name
- Total cost
- Date requested for purchase
- Justification for exception the standard approved purchase requisition process.
This email will create a UW Connect Ticket for Equipment Inventory to review.
Capital Projects Equipment Purchases
Fabrications are capitalized via the Project process in Workday. They do not come to the Equipment Inventory Office until they have been capitalized and put into Registered status.
Last updated 04 September 2026