UAB acquires equipment in a variety of ways, detailed below.
- Requisition
- Capital Equipment Object Codes and Useful Lives
- Equipment Donated to UAB
- Federal Surplus Property
- Transfer of Grant and Contract Equipment from Another Institution to UAB
- Lease and Lease/Purchase
- Purchase for Use at a Non-UAB Facility
Requisition
Equipment is purchased by initiating either an Oracle Purchase Order Requisition or a Payment Request Form. The Capital Equipment Purchase Form is required for every capital equipment purchase. Purchases that involve trade-ins also require a completed Equipment Disposition Form.
Capital Equipment Object Codes and Useful Lives
| Sub Code | Equipment Type | Useful Life |
|---|---|---|
| 8908051: Light Transportation Vehicles | Passenger cars, vans, station wagons, and pickup trucks with a total weight of less than one ton | 4 years |
| 8908052: Heavy Work Vehicle | Heavy trucks, buses, tow trucks, forklifts, tractors, bulldozers, and trailers with a total weight of one ton or more | 8–10 years |
| 8908053: Computer Software | Computer software costing $5,000 or more for the Hospital and $10,000 or more for the University | 3 years |
| 8908054: Computer Hardware | Personal computers, disk drives, color monitors, printers, mainframe computers, and other computer hardware costing $10,000 or more for the University and $2,000 or more for the Hospital | 3–5 years |
| 8908059: Other Equipment | Scientific equipment, patient care equipment, office furniture, and any other equipment that does not fit in the above categories costing $10,000 or more for the University and $2,000 or more for the Hospital | 5–15 years |
Note: If the correct sub code is not known, please use sub code 8908059 (Other Equipment). Asset Management will correct the sub code if necessary.
Equipment Donated to UAB
When an individual or entity donates equipment to UAB, the individual receiving the equipment must notify the department's Accountable Equipment Officer (AEO). The AEO is responsible for notifying both Asset Management at FA-ead@uab.edu and the Gift Records Office at gifts@uab.edu by email. Please include:
- The donor's legal name
- A description of the equipment donated
- The planned location of the equipment
- The UAB organizational unit to which the gift was made
- The department contact's name, phone number, and email address
Submit the following additional documentation to Asset Management:
- A completed Equipment Disposition Form
- A letter from the donor listing the donated equipment items with a dollar value for each item, as estimated or appraised by the donor
- Any other documentation that would be helpful in recording the equipment
Federal Surplus Property
Departments may obtain federal surplus property through the Alabama State Agency for Surplus Property. A representative from the acquiring department must secure an official letter of authorization from the UAB Purchasing Department before going to the state surplus warehouse in Montgomery.
For information on this method of equipment acquisition, contact the UAB Purchasing Department at purchasing@uab.edu or 205-934-4515.
Transfer of Grant and Contract Equipment from Another Institution to UAB
When equipment is transferred to UAB in conjunction with the transfer of a grant or contract, Asset Management must be notified of the items received so they can be recorded in the Asset Management system.
Complete an Equipment Disposition Form with the description, serial number, current location, and department information. Attach any other pertinent documentation and submit it to Asset Management.
The recipient department is solely responsible for notifying Asset Management of any equipment received by grant or contract transfer.
Lease and Lease/Purchase
Equipment meeting the equipment capitalization requirement under the capital lease review criteria will be recorded in the Sunflower Asset Management System as inventoried equipment. Contact Ruvy Viljoen in the Controller’s Office at rviljoen@uab.edu for details on capital leases.
Purchase for Use at a Non-UAB Facility
Asset Management will review the justification on the Capital Equipment Purchase Form when a non-UAB facility is listed as the primary location to determine whether the purchase is permitted.
If approved, the equipment will remain the responsibility of the ordering department and will remain on the department's inventory until the equipment is sent to surplus or otherwise retired.