• Form W-9 Request for Taxpayer ID Number and Certification

• Alcorn State University
• Delta State University
• Jackson State University
• Mississippi State University
• Mississippi Valley State University
• Mississippi University for Women
• University of Mississippi
• University of Mississippi Medical Center
• University of Southern Mississippi

Information for Small Business, Women & Minority Owned Businesses

Introduction: This guide has been prepared to assist you in your contacts with our Purchasing Department and The Institutions of Higher Learning. We believe this information will help you better understand our organization and our procedures for processing purchases. If you have any questions or suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact us. It is our mutual interest to strive to improve our business relationships.

What We Buy: Purchases are made to support academic programs as well as to support activities such as the Physical Plant, Grant Programs, and Central Office. The items include scientific equipment, office furniture, office supplies, chemicals, minor repair, construction materials, construction machinery, and maintenance service. If you are interested in supplying any of these items, then please advise us in writing and provide us with some information on your firm's background and experience.

How We Buy: As a public institution, we must follow state purchasing laws and regulations. The Mississippi Constitution places the management and control of Institutions of Higher Learning under the governance of the Board of Trustees. State law establishes guidelines and agencies to supervise the procurement functions. The Office of Purchasing and Travel, which is under the Department of Finance, was established to coordinate and promote economy in the purchases made by state agencies. The Office of Purchasing and Travel has the authority to prescribe rules and regulations to enter contracts for commodities and to issue regulation on how commodities can be purchased under the contract. State law established a Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services (ITS) to centralize and regulate the procurement of data processing and telecommunication equipment. A brief outline of our regulations is as follows:

• Laws relative to the Office of Purchasing and Travel and the procurement process in general may be found in Chapter 7 of the Mississippi Code beginning with Section 31-7-1.
• Orders on State Contract
• If an item is covered by a Competitive Bid State Contract, we must buy from a particular vendor.
• If an item is covered by a Negotiated Contract, we can purchase that item from a vendor not on State Contract if the price is lower than State Contract price.
• Billing Instructions
• Invoices are processed by Accounts Payable (601)432-6646. The billing information is shown on the purchase order. IHL attempts to insure prompt processing of vendor invoices. We require an original and one copy of all invoices.
• Shipping Instructions

Most of our deliveries will be made to 3825 Ridgewood Rd., Jackson, MS 39208, room 412. The "ship to location" will be indicated on our purchase order.