Printing
Definition of Printing Services
- The requirements and resources on this webpage pertain to offset and digital printing services.
- Offset Printing
A printing technique that is defined as lithography, flexography, gravure, or letterpress. Offset printing involves the process of transferring ink through static or fixed image plates using an impact method of pressing ink into a substrate.
- Digital Printing
A printing technique using digital or electronic files from a personal computer or other digital storage device as a source. Digital printing does not rely on a press plate to carry the image and also does not require any setup sheets. Digital Printing services include UV Printing.
How to Purchase Printing Services
- Purchases from Illini Union’s Document Services are processed via Journal Voucher and do not require multiple quotes or Purchase Order.
- When Illini Union’s Document Services is not used, printing purchases between $10,000 and $99,999 require at least three informal vendor quotes.
- Purchases from external vendors can be made through iBuy or P-Card.
If purchasing through iBuy, please include the signed Soybean or Vegetable Oil-Based Ink Statement and Prevailing Wage Statement with the requisition.
If purchasing with a P-Card, the signed Soybean or Vegetable Oil-Based Ink Statement and Prevailing Wage Statement must be maintained with the order log and receipt.
When can an external vendor be authorized to begin printing?
No printing services with an external vendor may be authorized until a Purchase Order has been issued or a P-Card transaction has been authorized.
Form Required for Printing Services – Printing Services Statement
In accordance with Section 45-15 (Soybean Oil Based Ink and Vegetable Oil-Based Ink) of the Illinois Procurement Code, offset printing services offered to the University shall specify the use of soybean oil-based ink unless a State Purchasing Officer determines that another type of ink is required to assure high quality and reasonable pricing of the printed product.
In accordance with Section 25-60 (Prevailing Wage Requirements) of the Illinois Procurement Code, all printing services offered to the University shall be performed by employees receiving the prevailing wage rate and working under conditions prevalent in the locality where the contract is to be performed. Any firm whose employees receive less than such prevailing wage rate, or work under less favorable conditions than those prevalent in the locality, shall not be considered as a source for printing services.
- The vendor must complete and sign the Printing Services Statement for all offset & digital printing services.
The vendor’s signature must be a wet signature or an Adobe digitally time-stamped signature. Signatures that are typed into the form will not be accepted.
The statement must be signed by the vendor for each individual printing order. Previously signed vendor statements cannot be re-used for new orders.
For digital printing, vegetable and soybean inks are not used in the printing process. The vendor should still complete the form and provide a brief explanation about how these types of inks are not used in digital printing.
Screen printing services applied to merchandise do not require these two statements to be signed. Example: Logos screen-printed on t-shirts, hats, bags, and mugs.
Bid Requirements for Printing Services
- Purchases from Illini Union’s Document Services are processed via Journal Voucher and do not require a competitive solicitation or Purchase Order.
- When Illini Union’s Document Services is not used, printing purchases ≥ $100,000 require a competitive solicitation.