State University of New York at Cortland
OP-17: Guidelines for Business Partners

This policy is still in effect and the governing principle behind campus purchasing and approach to work with business partners. When a construction / renovation project is initiated, the campus starts by requesting a prevailing wage schedule from the DOL website, at the website the campus received a Public Works ID number for the project. This alerts DOL and the public that a public works job is being performed on our campus. All contractors who bid on the job receive a copy of the DOL wage schedule. Once a contractor is hired, certified payrolls are required with all payment requests (from the prime contractor as well as any subcontractors). We review the certified payrolls to make sure they are in alignment with the DOL wage schedule. DOL and/or union business agents also audit the jobs and certified payrolls often to confirm compliance. At the end of a project, as a part of our closeout process, a Release is required from the contractor and subcontractor certifying that all monies on the project have been paid according to DOL prevailing wage schedule. By establishing the Prevailing Wage, it establishes a minimum standard by which wage rates and living wages are established for work by contractors on the campus. For purchase of commodities and services the following New York State Finance Law includes requirements of worker compensation and environmental standards which apply to those commodities. NY State Finance Law §165.3.b Consistent with determinations of need required by subdivision five of section one hundred sixty-three of this article, the commissioner and state agencies shall purchase recycled, re-manufactured or recyclable commodities when such commodities meet their form, function and utility and shall consider the cost of the commodity over its lifecycle. The commissioner and a state agency shall also have the authority to determine that for reasons of public health or safety, a recycled, re-manufactured or recyclable commodity should not be purchased. Such determinations shall be documented in the procurement record. i. A state agency shall purchase recycled commodities at a cost premium only if (A) the cost premium associated with a commodity which has recycled content does not exceed ten percent above the cost of a commodity made without recycled content or, (B) the cost of a recycled commodity that contains at least fifty percent secondary materials generated from the waste stream in New York state, does not exceed a cost premium of fifteen percent above the cost of a comparable commodity. ii. A state agency shall not be required to purchase recyclable or re-manufactured commodities at a cost premium unless such commodity also constitutes a "recycled commodity" as defined in this subdivision and that as such a recycled commodity, it has been offered for sale in conformance with the standards for application of a cost premium for recycled commodities as set forth in clauses (A) and (B) of subparagraph (I) of this paragraph.

The Purchasing Department educates the campus via web pages and training memos on how to appropriately do business with vendors. Purchasing staff members meet with vendors regarding new products and explain how vendors can do business with the College. As a state institution our Department follows the New York State Finance Law when doing business with vendors and following the purchasing guidelines.