Vendor Selection Guidelines

Following are fair, ethical and professional business practices of Hastings College of the Law that should be used when selecting vendors for College business.

1. Conflict of Interest:  Avoid making, participating in, or attempting to influence any decision if you know or have reason to know that you have a financial interest in the outcome of that decision 
2. Favoritism: Avoid any personal business or professional activity that would create, or appear to create, a conflict between your personal interests and the interests of the College.
3. Personal Purchases: Do not use College credit, purchasing power, or facilities to make purchases of goods or services for yourself or for non-College activities.
4. Unauthorized Purchases: Do not make purchases you are not authorized to make, and only order goods and services that comply with College policy.
5. Employee-Vendor: Do not purchase or lease goods or services from any College employee or from a business in which a Hastings employee has a 10% or greater interest.
6. Near-Relative: Do not purchase or lease goods or services from a near-relative of a College employee or from a business in which a near-relative of a College employee has a 10% or greater interest.
7. Gratuities: Refrain from accepting gifts, preferential discounts, travel, entertainment favors or services from current or potential suppliers to the College that might influence, or appear to influence purchasing decisions.
8. Anti-Kickback: Never accept any money, commission, object of value, offer of employment. or compensation of any kind which is provided or offered directly or indirectly by a supplier, contractor or subcontractor for the purpose of obtaining favorable treatment in connection with a grant or purchase contract. 
9. Split Purchases: Never split a transaction to bypass approval limits.
10. Supplier Relationships: Promote positive supplier relationships through:

• Non-Discrimination: Do not use race, religion, sex, color, ethnicity and national origin of a supplier as criteria when conducting business.
• Open Competition: Encourage competition through open, equitable, and fair practices.
• Fairness: Conduct business with current and potential suppliers fairly, equitably and in an atmosphere of good faith.
• Ethical Practices: Avoid the intent and appearance of unethical or compromising practices in relationships, actions, and communications.