Purchasing
How to Involve IT in Your Purchasing Process

Effective collaboration with IT ensures that technology purchases comply with university standards, security policies, and proper setup procedures. This guide outlines how administrative staff, faculty, and labs should engage with IT for hardware and software acquisitions, emphasizing inventory and security compliance.

Purchasing for Administrative Staff

If you wish to make hardware and software purchases, please contact us via TDX or email.

  • Hardware
    • McCormick standard devices suitable for most administrative needs are available for immediate deployment.
    • If you have custom computing needs, please let us know.
  • Software
    • See Software procurement section

Purchasing for Faculty or Labs

For McCormick IT Managed Equipment

For research equipment, custom hardware, or specialized software:

  • Submit a request via TDX or email with any available details including specs, use case, and faculty/lab name.
  • Once the item arrives, McC IT will arrange to start inventory, device security and management to comply with the Endpoint Security Standard
  • Software that stores data or requires a license agreement must be reviewed by McC IT before purchase. Security or contract review may apply.

For Self-Managed equipment

If you choose to purchase and manage equipment independently:

Software purchases

For most new software purchases, McCormick IT can assist with:

  • Quote generation and purchasing support
  • Security Assessment
  • License Management

Software that includes a vendor contract, license agreement, or collects/store data must go through IT and may require:

  • Security or risk review
  • Contract routing and approval
  • Note: Submit early to avoid delays

Requesting a Technical Assessment or quote

Unsure what to buy? Request a Technical Assessment. A member of our team can assist by:

  • Reviewing needs with the requester
  • Recommending hardware from stock or inventory
  • Provide a custom quote from NU preferred vendors
  • Quote pricing on software that is already licensed or approved

Reimbursements

If a member of your department purchases IT hardware or software directly:

  • Please notify IT upon delivery by emailing mccit@northwestern.edu
  • Include model, serial number, and purchase details for asset tracking
  • Ensure the item is compatible and compliant before purchasing

Note: Reimbursements may be denied if items do not meet Northwestern standards or were not approved in advance.