Purchasing/Stores Glossary of Terms

Glossary Terms Beginning with "E"

E & I Cooperative
Was formed by a group of college and university purchasing officers to pool buying power and establish contracts which can be utilized by all co-op members. The University has access to these contracts through its membership in NAEB.

EIO
Equipment Inventory Office.

EIR
See ERI.

ERI
Specialized Equipment and Research or Instructional materials. See University of Washington Policies & Procedures, Purchasing Department, Procedure 2.3.

Email
Electronic mail system which consists of the interconnected computers and suitable mail-transfer software.

Emergency Purchase
A purchase made without following the normal purchasing procedure in order to obtain goods or services quickly to meet an emergency.

Employment Notice
Form completed and signed by the employee in either the Staff Employment Office or hiring department which officially puts the employee on the payroll.

Employment Opportunities Bulletin
Weekly listing of job opportunities available at the University.

Encumbrance Adjustment
Process of changing original encumbrance to either increase or decrease the amount. See University of Washington Policies & Procedures, Purchasing Department, Procedure 7.5.4.

Encumbrance
Monies set aside in advance from a budget to pay for purchases.

Equal, Or equal
A phrase used to indicate the substitutability of products of similar or superior function, purpose, design, and/or performance characteristics. See Brand Name Specification.

Escalation Clause
A clause in a purchase contract providing for upward adjustment of the contract if specified contingencies occur; price escalation clause.

Ethernet
Connection used to bring computer systems on line with the University main frame.

Ethics
See Purchasing Ethics and Conflict of Interest.

Evaluation of Bid
The process of examining a bid after opening to determine the Bidder's responsibility, responsiveness to requirements, and other charac- teristics of the bid relating to the selection of the winning bid. (See Recap).

Expedite
To hasten or to assure delivery of goods purchased in accordance with a time schedule, usually by contact by the purchaser with the vendor.