Exempt Purchases

The Illinois Procurement Code (Code) and Administrative Rules define specific types of purchases which are exempt from the Code. A purchase which exceeds the Small Purchase Limit and falls under one of the following types of purchases is considered an exempt purchase.

Purchases of/for:

• Supplies or services necessary to provide artistic or musical services, performances, or theatrical productions held at a venue operated or leased by the University of Illinois System.
• Memberships in professional, academic, research, or athletic organizations.
• Events or activities paid for exclusively by revenues generated by the event or activity, gifts, or donations for the event or activity, private grants, or any  combination thereof.
• Events or activities for which the use of specific potential contractors is mandated or identified by the sponsor of the event or activity, provided that the sponsor is providing  majority of the funding for the event or activity.
• Supplies or services necessary to provide athletic, artistic, or musical services, performances, events, or productions by or for the University of Illinois System.
• Periodicals, books, subscriptions, database licenses, and other publications procured for use by a university library or academic department, except for expenditures related to procuring textbooks for student use or materials for resale or rental.
• Placement of students in externships, practicums, field experiences, and for medical residencies and rotations.
• Programming and broadcast license rights for university-operated radio and television stations.
• Supplies or services necessary to perform sponsored research and other sponsored activities under grants and contracts funded by the sponsor or by sources other than State appropriations.
• Supplies or services from a foreign entity for research or educational activities, provided that the foreign entity either does not maintain an office in the United States or is the sole source of the service or product.
• Medical supplies, and contracts for medical services necessary for the delivery of care and treatment at medical, dental, or veterinary teaching facilities and at any university-operated health care center or dispensary that provides care, treatment, and  medications for students, faculty, and staff, including procurements by such a facility of any additional supplies or services that the operator of the facility deems necessary for the effective use and functioning of the medical supplies or services that are otherwise exempt from the Code.
• Supplies or services necessary for the fulfillment of a grant shall be made in accordance with the requirements of the Procurement Code to the extent practical.
• Procurement expenditures for any ongoing software license or maintenance agreement or competitively solicited software purchase, when the software, license, or maintenance agreement is available through only the software creator or its manufacturer and not a reseller.
• Procurement expenditures incurred outside of the United States for the recruitment of international students.
• Procurements for investment services.

Exemptions require a posting published to the Illinois Procurement Bulletin – Public Institutions of Higher Education. Some exempt purchases will continue to require compliance with Federal acquisition requirements. Contact the Purchasing Division for an exempt purchase. 

Last Updated: February 21, 2023