Examples of Allowable and Unallowable Purchases

Examples of allowable purchases:

• Airfare
• Books
• Car rental
• Catering charges, excluding alcohol
• Computer equipment
• Conference registration fees
• Copiers, leases, supplies
• Copying services
• Dues and memberships
• Duplication
• Hospitality, excluding alcohol (refer to Administrative Policy: Hospitality and Entertainment of Non-Employees for details.)
• Lab charges
• Mailers, shipping, courier companies
• Non-travel supply items, conference supplies, books, etc.
• Office supplies/materials
• Office water coolers
• Oxygen, gases
• Publications
• Scientific supplies
• Subscriptions
• Telephone services, pagers, or cell phones (Department cell phones only). See See Cell Phones and Data Plans section of Administrative Policy: Business Expenses.

Do NOT use the card for:

• Alcohol
• Capital equipment
• Cash advances
• Consultants or professional services
• Lodging expenses
• Travel meals (should be paid for out-of-pocket and reimbursed at the appropriate per diem rate)
• Radioactive materials
• Research animals
• Personal expenses of any kind
• Any item not allowed by cardholder department policies or procedures.
• Any item not allowed by sponsoring agency.