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Faculty-Affiliated Companies: Week 3 |
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Purchasing equipment and services from a Faculty-Affiliated Company (FAC) |
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Welcome to week three of our series on faculty-affiliated companies. |
We are covering important requirements and processes to help you confidently navigate the laws, policies, and standards that apply when you or your family members have ownership interests or other significant ties to a company.
If you missed last week, where we went over subcontracts and subawards between FACs and UConn, you can view it here.
This week’s focus: Purchasing equipment and services from an FAC |
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If you own or have a financial interest in a company, that company generally can’t sell goods or services to UConn unless it’s awarded the contract through a competitive and public process.
Before moving forward with any potential sale:
Contact Procurement Services and Sponsored Program Services (SPS). They’ll determine whether the purchase complies with state ethics and procurement laws. If a competitive process is required, you cannot participate in or influence it. This includes writing specifications or discussing the purchase with colleagues involved.
Some research sponsors also require advance disclosure or approval before buying from a company in which a faculty member has a financial interest. SPS will help determine whether any sponsor approvals are needed. |
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Remember Dr. Rivera from week 2? |
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His company is growing, and now it wants to sell laboratory equipment and testing services to UConn researchers. |
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Before the company can move forward, Dr. Rivera:
1. Contacts Procurement Services and Sponsored Program Services (SPS) to disclose the potential sale.
2. Allows Procurement Services to determine whether the transaction is permissible and whether a public bidding process is required.
3. Completely steps back from the process — he can’t write specifications, give feedback, or discuss the purchase with anyone involved. |
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The various policies and laws that apply are fact-specific and it is highly recommended that faculty consult with the appropriate offices. |
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Next Week's Focus: The use of University space and/or equipment, and the involvement of students, post-docs and other trainees in faculty start-up activities |
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