Financial Administration
Category ID
The Category ID is a required entry in the Line Details panel of the Purchase Order. Several types of entry choices are possible for that field.
The first type of entry that can be made would be the selection of the Category IDs "D" or "DFLT" which represent default entries to be made for purchase order lines that do not require a more descriptive Category ID; or as a temporary entry until a more descriptive Category ID is selected later in the Purchase Order edit process.
The second type of entry that can be made is the selection of one of the 5 digit codes which are drawn from the NIGP (National Institute of Governmental Purchasing) licensed commodity & service codes. This code system contains approximately 7700 codes and the descriptions of products and services that those codes represent. These codes and descriptions have been loaded into the table for selection in the Category field in the Purchase Order Line Details panel.
An NIGP code selection for the Category field is required for all purchase orders that must be reported to the State Bureau of Procurement. Those purchase orders include all purchase orders for products and services not exempt from the purchasing process and all purchases made under terms of State contracts.
To improve the quality of the descriptive information that is available in the Shared Financial System; UW Purchasing staff will be assigning NIGP codes to all of the purchase orders they enter; with exception of those exempt from the purchasing process for reasons other than dollar value.
The Category field in the purchase order does not allow for the full text search of the descriptions of the Categories, so alternative search methods should be employed to make the correct NIGP code selection. Those alternative selection methods are:
-
If the purchase is being made under the terms of a State, UW System or UW campus contract, enter the NIGP code that is indicated for that contract. The old commodity codes are being replaced on updates of those contracts with the appropriate NIGP code.
-
Use the text search method provided by UW Madison Purchasing Services at the following internet address: http://rhino.bussvc.wisc.edu:8888/purch/comminqrhtml
-
Use a combination of text and number searches from the 3 digit Class and 5 digit Class and Item code files. The shorter 3 digit Class code list can be used first to identify a narrow the search in the 5 digit Class and Item code list. The files (html and Excel) follow:
-
Use the search capabilities provided on the State Bureau of Procurement's Vendornet site at the following address: http://vendornet.state.wi.us/vendornet/