Delegation of Authority to Sign Contracts
REG 01.20.2
Authority: Issued by the Chancellor. Changes or exceptions to administrative regulations issued by the Chancellor may only be made by the Chancellor.
History: First Issued: April 11, 1987; Last Revised: August 14, 2007. Additional History Information.
Related Policies:
UNC Policy Manual 600.1.1.1[G] - Guidelines on the Delegation of Authority to Sign Construction Contracts
UNC Policy Manual 600.1.3 - Leasing and Acquisition of Real Property Authority
UNC Policy Manual 200.5 - Initiating and Settling Lawsuits
NCSU Purchasing Regulations
NCSU REG 07.05.02 - Procedures for Small Purchases
NCSU REG 01.25.6 - Use of the University's Names, Marks, Symbols, Images, and Copyrights
NCSU RUL 01.25.1 - NC State University's Trademark Licensing Rules
NCSU REG 01.25.5 - Procedures for Formatting, Adopting, and Publishing Policies, Regulations and Rules
NCSU REG 01.20.1 - Delegations of Authority for Appointments, Compensation and Other Personnel Actions for Employees Exempt from the State Personnel Act (EPA)
NCSU POL01.20.2 - Authority of Vice Chancellor for Finance and Business
NCSU POL01.20.1 - Authority of the Chancellor
Additional References:
Contracts and Purchasing
SPARCS Standard Operating Procedure, Delegations of Signature Authority
The Code of the Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina
Standard Form Agreements Approved for Use by the Office of Legal Affairs
Contact Info: Vice Chancellor and General Counsel (919-515-3071) Office of Legal Affairs
1. Background and Scope of Regulation
1.1 Full executive and administrative power is vested in the Chancellor by N.C. Gen. Stat. 116-34(a) and Section 502A of The Code of the Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina. Inherent within this power is the authority to sign contracts binding North Carolina State University, and to delegate and permit the further delegation of such authority not otherwise retained by the Board of Governors, the Board of Trustees or other state administrative agencies or officials.
1.2 This regulation sets forth the Chancellor's approved delegations and sub-delegations of contract signature authority to various administrative officials for contracts signed on or after August 14, 2007. All other delegations of contract signature authority are superseded. For purposes of this regulation, a contract means an agreement between two or more persons that creates an obligation to do or not to do a particular thing. A contract may be titled as an agreement, a memorandum of understanding, memorandum of agreement, a promise to pay, or may use other terminology. A contract may or may not involve the payment of money.
1.3 This Regulation excludes the delegation of authority for faculty, EPA professional and administrative personnel appointments, compensation and related personnel actions. Such delegations are governed by NCSU REG01.20.1-Delegations of Authority for Appointments, Compensation and Other Personnel Actions for Employees Exempt from the State Personnel Act (EPA).
2. Unauthorized Contracts
2.1 North Carolina State University does not recognize contracts signed by University employees as binding on the University unless the employee who signed the contract has duly delegated signatory authority.
2.2 Employees who sign contracts purporting to bind NC State without authority properly delegated under this Administrative Regulation may be personally subject to legal action by the contractor, and may be subject to University disciplinary action.
2.3 All previous delegations of authority are superseded and rendered void as of the effective date of this regulation.
3. General Delegations of Authority
3.1 The Chancellor retains residual executive authority to sign contracts for North Carolina State University, notwithstanding the delegations of authority contained in this regulation.
3.2 The Vice Chancellor for Finance and Business is delegated the authority to sign all contracts for which the Chancellor has signature authority that may be further sub-delegated.
3.3 Executive Officers delegated signature authority retain residual signature authority notwithstanding further sub-delegations of signature authority that are set forth in this regulation.
4. Specific Delegations of Authority
Specific delegations of contract signature authority for specified contracts to Executive Officers and their delegates are set forth in this section. An individual with delegated signature authority who signs a contract on behalf of the University has the responsibility to ensure that the contract follows University and State policies, regulations, rules and guidelines and that all necessary insurance coverage is in force. Delegations and sub-delegations of authority to sign a Standard Form Agreement does not include authority to make changes to the Standard Form Agreement. A Standard Form Agreement is one that has been approved as to legal form and sufficiency by the Office of Legal Affairs. The Office of Legal Affairs must review any changes to the Standard Form Agreement before the agreement may be signed. The Office of Legal Affairs must review any contract offered for signature by a third party. Standard Form Agreements are available from the Purchasing Office.
4.1 Academic Contracts
Authority to sign contracts related to academic personnel and student exchange, academic placements (such as field work internships), and academic matriculation and curriculum exchange that do not involve purchases of goods or services by NC State is delegated to the Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor, and is sub-delegated to the Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs.
The authority to sign Standard Form Academic Cooperation Agreements between the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service (NCARS), the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and public school systems for the placement of students at research stations that do not involve the purchase of goods or services and that are not research agreements is delegated to the Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor, and is sub-delegated to the Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
4.2 Research and Sponsored Programs
4.2.1 The authority to sign contracts, including grants and cooperative agreements, for research, public service, scholarship, and other creative sponsored activities is delegated to the Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Studies. This authority also includes the authority to grant exemptions to claiming maximum allowable indirect costs.
4.2.2 Signature authority to approve those contracts listed in 4.2.1 is sub-delegated by the Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Studies to the following positions:
a. Associate Vice-Chancellor for Research Administration
b. Director of SPARCS
c. Associate Director of SPARCS
d. Senior Contract Negotiators within SPARCS
4.2.3 Signature authority for the standard Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that is used for sponsored programs of $25,000 or less (including overhead) is sub-delegated by the Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Studies to the Deans of all the Colleges and to their Associate Deans for Research (or equivalent position). The standard MOA may be used only where (1) funding is not federal or state; (2) the approved MOA form found at SPARCS website is used; (3) funding does not exceed $25,000; and (4) an overhead rate of at least 15% is applied to the total direct cost.
4.2.4 Signature authority for proposals for research, public service, scholarship, and other sponsored creative activities to be funded by grant, cooperative agreement, memorandum of agreement, contract, purchase order or any other form of funding agreement is sub-delegated to those administrators listed in 4.2.2 and to other administrators as may be approved from time to time by the UNC Office of the President and documented in SPARCS Standard Operating Procedure, Delegations of Signature Authority.
4.3 Technology Transfer
4.3.1 The authority to sign contracts necessary for the operation of the university's technology transfer program, including but not limited to licenses, options, confidentiality agreements, material transfer agreements and documents required for the prosecution and maintenance of University intellectual property rights is delegated to the Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Studies.
4.3.2 The Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Studies sub-delegates signature authority for contracts relating to the operation of the university's technology transfer program, including but not limited to licenses, options, confidentiality agreements, material transfer agreements and documents required for prosecution and maintenance of University intellectual property rights, to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Technology Development and Innovation. This sub-delegation of signature authority includes granting of licenses for software for which NC State owns the copyright and for other works of copyright owned by NC State where the license will generate revenues beyond direct cost recovery.
4.3.3 The Associate Vice Chancellor for Technology Development and Innovation further delegates to the Director of Technology Transfer the signature authority for all contracts specified in 4.3.2.
4.4 Permissions to use University Name, Marks, Symbols, and Copyright
4.4.1 With the exception of permissions for the use of University owned software and other copyrighted works generating revenue beyond direct cost recovery, which are within the delegated authority of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Studies, the authority to sign agreements granting permission to use copyrighted works such as text, graphics, photography, and similar copyrighted material, is delegated to the Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor.
The Provost sub-delegates the foregoing signature authority to the Special Assistant to the Provost for Copyright Administration to be exercised in accordance with NCSU REG 1.25.6 -Use of the University's Names, Marks, Symbols, Images, and Copyrights .
4.4.2 The authority to sign contracts necessary for the operation of the university's trademark licensing program, including but not limited the authority to register such marks, symbols and other indicia of the University in the various states and with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as the Vice Chancellor deems appropriate, to enter into a contract with an agent for the licensing of NC State University's marks, symbols, and indicia in a manner deemed consistent with the purposes and needs of the University, and to sign agreements granting permission to use the University's names, logos, and other trademarks in connection with the University's trademark licensing program is delegated to the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Business.
The Vice Chancellor for Finance sub-delegates the foregoing authority to the Director of NC State's Trademark Licensing Office, such authority to be exercised in accordance with NCSU RUL 01.25.1 - NC State University's Trademark Licensing Rules .
4.5 Extension, Engagement and Economic Development
4.5.1 The authority to sign the Standard Form Industrial Extension Service Agreement for extension service (teaching and professional services provided to the public on a fee for service basis and that are not research) is delegated to the Vice Chancellor for Extension, Engagement and Economic Development.
4.5.2 Signature authority for Standard Form Industrial Extension Service Agreements where the value does not exceed twenty five thousand dollars ($25,000) is sub-delegated by the Vice Chancellor for Extension, Engagement and Economic Development to deans and associate deans for extension and the directors of non-college units providing the services.
4.5.3 Signature authority for Standard Form Industrial Extension Service Agreements where the value does not exceed fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) is sub-delegated by the Vice Chancellor for Extension, Engagement and Economic Development to the deans of the colleges or the Associate Vice Chancellor for the units providing the services.
4.6 Settlement Agreements
4.6.1 Settlement Agreements involving the payment of money and that are not within the signature authority addressed in section 4.7.2.3 are delegated to the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Business. Signatory authority for the settlement of lawsuits remains exclusively in the Chancellor and is not within the scope of this delegation.
4.7 Other Contracts
4.7.1 General Business Contracts
4.7.1.1 Small Purchase Agreements. Pursuant to state law and administrative regulations, the Director of Materials Management, pursuant to NCSU REG 01.25.5 Procedure for Formatting, Adopting, and Publishing Policies, Regulations, and Rules , has enacted rules that delegate to departments the authority to make small purchases where the consideration is limited to $5000.00 or less per transaction.
4.7.1.2 Authority to sign University contracts, or contracts originating from vendors where either the monetary consideration or the value of the agreement, whether monetary consideration is paid or not, or the revenue generated for the University does not exceed five thousand dollars ($5000.00), is sub-delegated to the Assistant Director for Materials Management. This regulation does not apply to purchase orders issued by employees of the NC State Purchasing Office.
4.7.1.3 Authority to sign University contracts, or contracts originating from vendors and where either the monetary consideration or the value of the agreement, whether monetary consideration is paid or not, or the revenue generated for the University does not exceed fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00) is sub-delegated to the Director for Materials Management. This regulation does not apply to purchase orders issued by employees of the NC State Purchasing Office.
4.7.1.4 Authority to sign University contracts for use by campus departments, or contracts originating from vendors where the monetary consideration or the value of the agreement, whether monetary consideration is paid or not, or the revenue generated for the University does not exceed two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000.00) is sub-delegated to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Financial Services
4.7.1.5 Authority to sign University contracts for use by campus departments, or contracts originating from vendors where the monetary consideration or the value of the agreement, whether monetary consideration is paid or not, or the revenue generated for the University exceeds two hundred fifty thousand dollars $250,000.00 is delegated to the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Business. This regulation does not apply to purchase orders for Information Technology contacts issued by employees of the NC State Purchasing Office pursuant to a contract bid award.
4.7.2 Special Business Agreements
4.7.2.1 Athletic Department Contracts for athletic contests and contracts for hotel rooms and transportation services used by NC State's varsity sports teams are delegated to the Director of Athletics and sub-delegated to the Senior Associate Athletic Director/Senior Woman Administrator and the Senior Associate Athletic Director for Men's Sports.
4.7.2.2 Standard Form Embryo Transfer Agreements are sub-delegated to the Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine.
4.7.2.3 Employment Contracts other than those covered by NCSU REG 01.20.1 - Delegations of Authority for Appointments, Compensation and Other Personnel Actions for Employees Exempt from the State Personnel Act (EPA) , and including but not limited to settlement agreements, separation and release agreements, "last chance" agreements and telework contracts are delegated as follows: For SPA employees the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Business; Non-faculty EPA Employees - the Executive Officer having responsibility for the employee's unit; For Faculty members the Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor. Signature authority for the settlement of lawsuits remains exclusively in the Chancellor and is not within the scope of this delegation.
4.7.2.4 Standard Form Facilities Use Agreements for Carmichael Complex are sub-delegated to the Director of Facilities and Operations for the Carmichael Complex.
4.7.2.5 Standard Form Mutual Aid Agreements with other law enforcement agencies for the purpose of mutual assistance pursuant to N.C. General Statute Section 160A-288 and Section 90-95.2 are sub-delegated to the Chief of the Campus Police.
4.7.2.6 Standard Summer Conference Housing Contracts are sub-delegated to the Director of University Housing.
4.7.2.7 Standard Form Guides for Outdoor Education Classes Agreements are sub-delegated to the Head of the Department of Physical Education.
4.7.2.8 Standard Form McKimmon Center Use Agreements are sub-delegated to the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Extension, Engagement and Economic Development, McKimmon Center For Extension and Continuing Education. Changes to the form Agreement must be approved by the Vice Chancellors for Extension, Engagement and Economic Development and Finance and Business.
4.7.2.9 Standard Form Performing Artists Contracts are sub-delegated to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs.
4.7.2.10 Standard Form 4-H Camp Use Agreements are sub-delegated to the Extension State 4-H Leader.
4.7.2.11 Standard Form Consent Agreements for the treatment of patients at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital are sub-delegated to the Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine and sub-delegated to the treating veterinarian.
4.7.2.12 Standard Form Employment of Off-Duty Officer Agreements of Raleigh Police Officers and Wake County Deputy Sheriffs at special events on campus are sub-delegated to the Chief of Police.
4.7.2.13 Design Service, Construction Management, Construction Contracts and addendums for the previous are sub-delegated to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Facilities.
4.7.2.14 Benefit Vendor Contracts signature authority is sub-delegated to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Human Resources for voluntary insurance benefit plans and the 403b program contracts.
4.7.2.15 Standard Form Real Estate Crop Agreements are sub-delegated to the Director of Real Estate.
