As a state agency, the University of Washington must follow Washington State laws governing the use of public funds. In most cases, UW cannot pay a supplier before goods or services are received and accepted, or before a valid invoice is received, whichever comes later.
This requirement helps protect public funds and ensures the University only pays for goods and services that have been delivered.
While there are a limited number of exceptions, including items such as software, travel expenses, memberships, insurance, and certain maintenance agreements, advance payment requests require careful review and must comply with state regulations.
If a supplier is requesting payment in advance, please contact the Contracts and Sourcing Team before making any commitments. We can help determine whether an exception applies and identify compliant payment options.