Michigan State University
OP-13: Vendor Code of Conduct

Supplier Diversity Program The Purchasing Department is actively involved in expanding and promoting its Supplier Diversity Program. This program offers minority-owned business enterprises (MBE), woman-owned business enterprises (WBE), and small or disadvantaged businesses the opportunity to develop sound business relationships with Michigan State University. Outreach activities are sponsored to introduce suppliers to the university community and to foster the growth of supplier contracts inclusive of a diverse supplier database. MBE and WBE companies are legally defined as, “a privately or publicly owned corporation, joint venture or any other type of business organization that is more than fifty percent beneficially owned and controlled by one or more minority persons or women”. The Supplier Diversity Program Coordinator supplies information and assists campus departments with creating subcontracting plans for federally funded contracts and grants. University departments can contact the Supplier Diversity Coordinator to obtain supplier and commodity information. Code of Ethics 1. Purpose The Purchasing Department conducts ethical business operations in compliance with applicable laws, government regulations, and university policies and procedures. The Purchasing Department abides by the Code of Ethics promoted by the National Association of Educational Procurement (NAEP). 2. Gifts and Entertainment Purchasing Department employees will not accept supplier gifts or entertainment. 3. Conflict of Interest Michigan law requires that the Board of Trustees approve the terms of any contract between the university and one of the following: (1) a university employee, (2) a business or other entity of which a university employee is a partner, member or employee, (3) a private corporation in which a university employee has a specified ownership interest or is a director, officer, or employee, or (4) a trust of which a university employee is a beneficiary or trustee. (See Contracts of Public Servants with Public Entities; MCLA 15.321 et. seq.) Contracts or other agreements falling within the scope of this state law should be provided to the Office of the General Counsel for review and approval by the Board of Trustees. University employees must take all appropriate steps to assure that the university does not knowingly enter into purchase commitments which would violate Michigan law or result in a conflict of interest. For the purpose of this section, a conflict of interest exists when an employee's financial interests or other opportunities for personal benefit may compromise, or reasonably appear to compromise, the independence of judgment with which the employee performs his/her responsibilities at the university. Employees should refer questionable purchase transactions to the director of University Services or the purchasing manager.