Overview
UC Berkeley currently offers two different Procurement Cards, each intended to fulfill a specific purchasing need for your department.
Once you have decided which Procurement Card works best for you, please visit the Applying for a New Procurement Card page to apply.
bluCard
The bluCard is a university procurement card that enables the timely purchase of goods or services, as well as coordination of social events and ceremonies to conduct university business. The purchase shall not exceed $9,999.00 in accordance with the LVPA (Low Value Purchase Authorization). Please refer to the Delegation of Contracting Authority page for more information.
The basic policies and procedures for the bluCard program are set forth in UC policies for entertainment (BUS-79) and procurement card programs (BUS-43) which can be found on the UCOP Policy Search page.
Travel expenses allowed on a bluCard and very limited, please visit the Purchasing and Payment Method Matrix page for more information.
Program Features
- The bluCard is a corporate liability card 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 or month, dollar limit per day or month, and total monthly limit can be specifically set to meet department needs
Benefits to the Campus Community
- Provides a convenient and efficient method for purchasing for university business and university-sponsored events
- 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
Travel Study Card (TSC)
The Travel Study Card (TSC) is a university procurement 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) which can be found on the UCOP Policy Search page.
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
- Review and verification of transactions within 15 days from their appearance on the staging table in BFS
- Spend limits: dollars per day and per cycle
- Number 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 TSC (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
Travel and Entertainment Card (T&E Card) - Not Yet Available
The Travel and Entertainment Card (T&E Card) will be UC Berkeley's procurement card available to approved employees who travel on university business. Only the cardholder will have the authority to make purchases with the card.
The T&E Card is not yet available. This page will be updated as soon as it becomes available.
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) which can be found on the UCOP Policy Search page.
This card allows for purchase of all travel related expenses including airfare, lodging, car rentals, and meals. The card can also be linked to your Uber account for making reservations in advance.
Program Features
- The bluCard is a corporate liability and billed centrally
- Plastic cards are issued to individuals
- Review and submit of transactions on an expense report within 60 days from the trip end date in the Expense Module in BFS
- Customizable spending limits: Transactions per day or month, dollar limit per day or month, and total monthly limit can be specifically set to meet department needs
Benefits to the Campus Community
- Reduces financial burden of employees travelling on official University business trips
- Allows the cardholder to purchase directly from vendors or through ConnexUC and the UC Travel Center
- Significantly reduces need for cash advances
- Allows purchases from vendors who accept the Visa Card, but do not accept purchase orders