Business Policies and Procedures Manual
Chapter 40: Sponsored Agreements

BPPM 40.16

For more information contact:
   Sponsored Programs Services
   509-335-2058
   Surplus Stores
   509-335-4630

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Policy

When a principal investigator takes permanent employment at another educational, nonprofit, or private institution, equipment may be transferred to the new institution.

Applicability

This policy applies to inventoried and noninventoried (capitalized and noncapitalized) equipment purchased with state and/or sponsored project funds.

Timing

Approval must be granted before equipment items change custody. Begin transfer procedures at least three months before the planned transfer date.

Sponsor-Acquired

An equipment item acquired under a sponsored agreement may be transferred to another institution if the following apply:

• Title vests with WSU and the sponsor’s agreement and regulations do not prohibit equipment transfer; and
• Title vests with WSU and the item is not needed by the University; or
• Title vests with the sponsoring agency and the sponsor permits or directs the transfer of equipment.

Contact SPS

Before submitting a transfer request, a department representative should discuss the transfer with Sponsored Programs Services (SPS) personnel. SPS provides an initial review of the award and agency terms and conditions to determine whether the transfer is permissible.

Transfer Request (Workday)

The department requests equipment transfer by selecting “Transfer of Equipment” in a Dispose Asset business process in Workday. Workday routes Dispose Asset requests involving grant worktags to SPS. SPS personnel ensure that the request complies with sponsor agreements and regulations, e.g., Uniform Guidance 2 CFR 200 and the Federal Demonstration Partnership. See the Workday Dispose Assets reference guide for instructions.

State-Purchased Equipment

An equipment item purchased with state funds as part of a research project may be transferred and sold in accordance with the following procedure.

Initially, the department and Surplus Stores determine whether or not the state-owned item is needed by any WSU department. If not, the item may be sold outside the University. The department is to receive fair market value for the item.

Negotiation

Surplus Stores determines equipment values, and the custodial department communicates the equipment values with the receiving institution.

Approval

The sale must be approved in advance by Surplus Stores. See BPPM 20.76.

Request Memorandum

Once the value is finalized, the selling department provides Surplus Stores with a memorandum from the responsible department chair or dean including the following information:

• WSU department contact name and phone number,
• All applicable Foundation Data Model (FDM) revenue transaction worktags for depositing the department portion of the proceeds (e.g., cost center, fund, function, region)
• Contact information at the receiving entity,
• Billing address and PO number from the receiving entity,
• A complete list of equipment to be sold with item acquisition costs and selling prices,
• WSU inventory numbers for the items that are listed in Workday or on departmental inventories as assets.
• An explanation of the transfer, including the PI’s name

Invoicing

Surplus Stores sends an invoice to the receiving entity. Once payment is received, Surplus Stores notifies the department. Items may not be physically transferred to the receiving entity until the University receives payment.

Updating Inventory

The custodial department starts a Dispose Asset–Transfer of Equipment business process in Workday. This initiates the process of removing the items from inventory. Surplus Stores reconciles the Workday notifications with the inventory listed in the department memorandum.

Consignment

Surplus Stores charges a consignment fee to process the sale transaction. The fee is added to the cost of the equipment and is paid by the receiving entity. For more information about the fees contact Surplus Stores; e-mail surplus@wsu.edu; telephone 509-335-3089.

Shipping

The University does not pay shipping costs to transfer equipment to other institutions. The receiving institution is responsible for arranging and paying for shipping.

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Revisions:  May 2021 (Rev. 568); May 2005 (Rev. 260); July 1987 – new policy (Rev. 67).