About Procurement Cards
UC Berkeley currently offers three different Procurement Cards, each intended to fulfill a specific purchasing need for your Department.
Once you've decided which Procurement Card works best for you, see our Program Management page to get started. Please note that online training is required before cards can be issued or used; see our Training and Help page for information.
bluCard
The bluCard is a University procurement card that enables the timely purchase of low value goods or services. The purchase shall not exceed $9,999.00 in accordance with the LVPA (Low Value Purchase Authorization). No travel or entertainment expenses may be paid for with the bluCard.
Program Features:
- The bluCard is a corporate liability and billed centrally
- Plastic cards are issued to Individuals
- Review and Verification of transactions within 15 days from their appearance on the staging table in BFS
- Customizable spending limits: Transactions per day/month, dollar limit per day/month, and total monthly limit can be speifically set to meet Department needs
Benefits to the Campus Community:
- Provides a convenient method for purchasing low-value products and services
- Allows Cardholder to purchase items on UC systemwide Strategic Sourcing Agreements.
- Allows purchases from vendors who accept the Visa Card, but do not accept purchase orders
- Speeds up processing time from purchase to payment with consolidated electronic billing
Event Planner Card
This card provides the Event Planner the ability to conduct university business in coordinating all social events and ceremonies sponsored by the College/School/Divisions and authorized Business Officers. Examples of events include receptions, luncheons, dinners, and other meetings and events as appropriate. The Event Planner oversees the purchase of goods and services for events and in doing so, has authority to make purchases within the single-purchase limit of the Event Planner Card (EPC). Only the cardholder has authority to make purchases with the card. The basic policies and procedures for the Event Planner Card program are set forth in UC policies for entertainment (BUS-79) and procurement card programs (BUS-43).
Program Features:
- The EPC is a corporate liability and billed centrally
- Plastic cards are issued to Individuals
- Allows purchases from different types of vendors (mostly food/entertainment related) than the bluCard
- Review and Verification of transactions within 15 days from their appearance on the staging table in BFS
- Spend limits: $ per day and per cycle are higher than bluCard limits
Benefits to the Campus Community:
- Reduces administrative cost and paperwork
- Improves the ability to negotiate pricing with vendors for prompt payment with the card
- Increases productivity by reducing time spent processing expense paperwork, allowing the Event Planner to focus on the event itself
- Improves control, accountability and policy compliance
Travel Study Card
The Travel Study Card is a university credit card, issued to designated employees and faculty of the University, to enable the timely purchase of goods and services to support a department's travel study program. Only the cardholder has the authority to make purchases with the card. Departments must follow the established policies and procedures set forth in UC Business and Finance Bulletins for Entertainment (BUS-79) and Procurement Card Programs (BUS-43). The card can be used to book travel, lodging for students and other activities that are part of the curriculum.
Program Features:
- The TSC is a Corporate liability and billed centrally
- Plastic cards are issued to Individuals
- Standard event planner card MCC template is developed
- Review and Verification of transactions within 15 days from their appearance on the staging table in BFS
- Spend limits: $ per day and per cycle
- # of transactions: per day and per cycle
- Spend limits are assigned according to the program funding. The balance declines until it is fully utilized. The limits do not refresh every month.
Benefits to the Campus Community:
Cost Saving benefits of the Travel Study Card (aka Declining Balance Card) include:
- Elimination of cash advance process, therefore increasing the cash flow for the University
- Enhances cash flow by receiving a monthly single statement and making a single payment for all TSC expenses.
- Increases productivity by reducing time spent processing expense paperwork, allowing faculty and students to focus on the travel study abroad activities.