Contract Signature Authority

I. Scope

This policy applies to William & Mary, including the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (hereinafter referred to as “W&M” or “university”) and to all its employees including faculty as well as staff, full- or part-time. It applies to the creation, revision, amendment or renewal of university purchasing contracts regardless of fund source, to include procurement that may or may not result in monetary consideration for either party. This policy shall apply whether the consideration is monetary or nonmonetary and regardless of whether W&M, the contractor, or some third party is providing the consideration.

II. Purpose

This policy establishes the individuals authorized to sign university procurement contracts.  Its purpose is to clarify which specific individuals have authority to bind the university and commit university resources in a given contracting situation.  Employees who exercise authority delegated pursuant to this policy act within the scope of their employment and minimize their risk of personal liability for unauthorized actions.  Only the employees identified below have authority to execute procurement agreements on behalf of the university. This policy complies with the Board of Visitors’ Bylaws and applicable laws and regulations, specifically the procurement authorities granted under the Restructured Higher Education Financial and Administrative Operations Act of 2005. The authority to sign non-procurement contracts and enter the university into other types of legal commitments, financial or otherwise, is addressed separately.

III. Definitions

• An Agreement is a binding commitment, typically in written form, between W&M or any unit within the university and any other entity or individual to acquire goods or services. These include, but are not limited to, purchase agreements, memoranda of understanding or agreement, collaboration agreements, and affiliation agreements.
• A Sign/Signature is agreeing to a contract, either through signing a hard copy of the document or legally affirming a contract through electronic means.
• A Signature Authority is the authority granted to specific individuals allowing them to legally bind the university.

 IV. Policy

Only authorized university officers and agents may sign agreements on behalf of W&M. Agreements signed by unauthorized employees or agents are not valid and do not bind the university. Individuals who are not authorized – who have not been granted a written delegation of authority to sign a contract – may be held personally responsible for contracts they sign. Such individuals also may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination, under applicable human resources policies.

In addition, individuals with delegated signature authority pursuant to this policy are expected to familiarize themselves with the additional requirements of applicable law or policy for the particular type of university contracts at issue.  All university contracts for the purchase of goods or services are subject to the requirement of a competitive procurement process regardless of fund source.

 V. Procedures

A. Delegation

The President has authority to transact business in the name of the university and may delegate that authority to other officers of the institution.  Signature authority is delegated by the President as follows; however, the President reserves the right to review each on a case-by-case basis.

The Provost is the signatory for all agreements relating to educational and research programs, domestic or international, and the byproducts thereof.  Signature authority for the following types of agreements is addressed through a separate delegation of authority issued by the Provost:

• Affiliation Agreements
• Sponsored Research Agreements
• Admissions/Financial Aid Agreements
• Intellectual Property Licensing Agreements
• Agreements Providing Academic Services to Other Entities
• Employment Agreements and Offer Letters for Teaching and Research Faculty
• International Academic Agreements (those with financial terms include review from contracts administration prior to signature) 

The Executive Vice President of Finance and Operations is the signatory for all agreements relating to the operation of the physical plant, financing and indebtedness, auxiliary services, general purchasing and supply systems, human resources, campus security and the building and grounds of the university.  Signature authority for the following types of agreements is addressed through the separate delegation of authority issued by the Executive Vice President of Finance and Operations:

• Purchases under Design & Construction Manual
• Employment Agreements and Offer Letters, Except Those for Teaching and Research Faculty
• Debt Issuance and Investments
• Leases and Facility Use Agreements
• Sponsorship and Naming Agreements
• Agreements to provide Auxiliary Services to Third Parties

 B. Delegation of Signature Authority for Procurement Agreements

 The Executive Vice President of Finance and Operations hereby delegates to the employees identified below the authority to enter into agreements to procure goods or services under the conditions specified.  All individuals who exercise delegated procurement authority must have completed a training course and assessment in the university's learning management platform before they may act upon this authority.  Dollar thresholds are calculated based on the life of the contract.

C. Expanded Procurement Authority

 The authorized individuals have the authority to sign off on two-party contracts based on the identified dollar thresholds below.   

A table provides a list of the individuals who have the the expanded procurement authority and their respective dollar thresholds.

Title	Dollar Threshold
AVP, Business Services, and Org. Excellence	Unlimited
W&M University Architect and VIMS Chief Operations Officer	Up to $1,000,000 on approved Facilities Projects
AVP Supply Chain Services	Up to $500,000
Director of Sourcing and Contracting	Up to $250,000
Procurement Sourcing Specialist	Up to $50,000 and sole source up to $10,000
Auxiliary Services Director and Senior VP of University Advancement	Conference and event agreements with external parties using W&M contract template up to $250,000
Director Student Unions & Engagement or Senior Associate Director Student Unions & Engagement and  and Executive & Artistic Director of the Arts	Entertainer contracts up to $35,000 using W&M contract template or contract addendum
Deputy Director of Athletics	Team travel contracts up to $50,000 using W&M contract addendum
Athletic Director	Game contracts up to $100,000 in guaranteed payments and/or penalty fees
Dean of Libraries, Associate Dean of Collections and Content Services, W&M Libraries and Director of the Wolf Law Library	Books and journals up to $10,000

D. Employee Responsibilities

Any agreement must be submitted through the university procurement, to be reviewed for legal sufficiency and to ensure that the contract is signed by the proper university official with delegated signature authority. Departments generating contracts are responsible for allowing sufficient time for review and negotiation of contractual terms. Early consultation with Supply Chain Services and the use of university agreement templates will speed up the review process and prevent the likelihood of terms that cannot be legally accepted.

University Counsel is the final authority on the interpretation of the law. It is the responsibility of Supply Chain Services to serve as the primary repository for contracts, agreements, riders, and related legal documents as a result of a competitive solicitation or sole source process when goods and services are obtained in accordance with established university procurement policies and procedures.

E. Exclusions

This policy does not apply to those contracts entered into directly by student clubs and organizations which are not binding on the university. Contracts with the university in support of student organizations may only be signed by an individual authorized through this policy. Student members of organizations may not enter into contractual obligations on behalf of the university.

F. Sanctions

Sanctions for failure to comply with this policy will be commensurate with the severity and/or frequency of the offense and may include termination of employment. Execution of an agreement by an employee who has not been delegated that authority may also subject the signer to personal liability for the contractual commitment made.

G. Authority & Amendment; Implementation

This policy was approved by the Chief Operating Officer. The Associate Vice President, Business Services and Organizational Excellence, is responsible for interpreting and implementing this policy.

The policy was amended on September 17, 2024 to update titles of responsible individuals and to change the dollar threshold for a) the AVP Business Services from up to $1,000,000 to Unlimited and b) Entertainer contracts from up to $25,000 to up to $35,000.  Expanded procurement authority was  removed from the Procurement Contract Manager.

Related Policies & Other Documents

• Board of Visitors Bylaws (pdf)
• Procurement Policies and Procedures