“It’s an emergency!” What should I do?
First, ask yourself – is it really an emergency? The State defines an emergency as “A situation involving public health, public safety, or cases where immediate expenditure is necessary for repairs to State property to protect against further loss or damage, to prevent or minimize serious disruption in State services, or to ensure the integrity of State records” Emergency conditions may result from fires, explosions, adverse weather conditions, or epidemic conditions. They may also result from untimely breakdown, damage, or loss of equipment vital to the maintenance of health or safety standards. In true emergency situations, the Illinois Procurement Code provides that purchasing procedures, including bidding requirements, may be waived if it becomes important for an emergency transaction to be completed within a certain time. If you need to make a purchase that is truly an emergency, you may submit your requisition after the service is performed or the purchase is made. Emergencies are not non-conforming, as long as you notify Purchasing no later than five business days after an emergency purchase has been made.