Authority to Sign Purchasing Contracts

Contracts are defined as:

A legally binding promise, enforceable by law. An agreement between parties, with binding legal and moral force, usually exchanging goods or services for money or other consideration. All types of agreements, regardless of what they may be called, for the procurement or disposal of supplies, services, or construction.
An agreement between a contracting authority and a person or business unit to provide a good, perform a service, construct a work, or to lease real property for appropriate consideration.

The authority to execute University contracts is vested in the President of the LSU System; however, the President has delegated to the Chief Financial Officer a limited authority to execute University contracts. The Chief Financial Officer has, in turn, delegated authority to the System Chief Procurement Officer to execute certain University contracts that deal with the purchasing process.

No one else is authorized to sign purchasing contracts or agreements on behalf of the University. Unless special delegation has been granted to an individual within the department, any purchasing contract requiring a signature on behalf of the University should be routed to Procurement for approval.

Rev 4/14/26

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