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  1. Miscellaneous Purchases

Software

In order to best protect the University of Pittsburgh, all software licenses, because they include non-standard terms and conditions, must be reviewed by Purchasing Services in conjunction with guidance provided by the Office of University Counsel prior to purchase in accordance with University policy FN 07.

Purchasing Services, along with the Office of University Counsel and Pitt Information Technology, has developed and implemented an overall software licensing review procedure. The review procedure is designed to ensure that the software licensing process is expedited and administered uniformly throughout the University.  Please allow and plan fifteen (15) working days for this to be completed.

Certain academic software titles and many software programs including anti-virus and Microsoft Office software are available through Pitt IT’s Software Distribution Services.

Please note that the review process is required of all software purchases (with the exception of restricted OneCard purchases as noted below), regardless of dollar value, including maintenance, renewals, and/or upgrades, not made through Pitt IT’s Software Distribution Services.

To expedite the review process, please submit all required documentation (i.e., supplier quote, license agreement, directed or sole source justification form, Pitt IT Security Assessment determination) with your contract request. 

Note: Requests for software purchases submitted to Purchasing Services without the required supporting documentation will be returned to the requesting department.

Software offered through Pitt IT’s Software Distribution Services is exempt from the software licensing review process. Software Distribution Services offers the best overall cost of ownership, assurance of University compliance, and expedited receipt of software. Contact the Technology Helpdesk for all software availability questions.

Software Purchases $10,000 or Less

While University Policy permits University departments to issue purchase orders and execute Short Form Services Agreements valued at $10,000 or less, since nearly all software providers will not agree to the University's standard terms and conditions, and there are possible intellectual property and "deemed export" liabilities that may far exceed the value of the license, ALL software license agreements must be executed by Purchasing Services with possible additional reviews by both Pitt IT and the Office of University Counsel.

Software Purchasing Methods

  • PantherExpress System
    • Pitt IT Software Store – Internal (University Supplier)
    • CDW-G Punchout
    • Dell Punchout
    • SHI Punchout
  • Contracts+ Contract Request
  • Pitt IT Software Distribution Services
  • OneCard, with restrictions
    • You must be approved to make software purchases on your OneCard and complete the necessary training.

Software cannot be purchased with an Other Payment Request in the PantherExpress System or with a personal credit card and a reimbursement request through an expense report in Concur.