Office of Research Integrity and Assurance

Purchasing

If you are responsible for the purchase of equipment or items at Mason, please review the guidance below to ensure compliance with U.S. sanctions and export regulations. Our office will review to determine if the purchase has any export restrictions that would require authorization from the U.S. Government. 

Before purchasing any research equipment, items or software:  
1. Screen the vendor  

New, unfamiliar or international vendors must be screened in Visual Compliance, prior to purchase. See our Restricted Party Screening page for guidance. 

2. Determine if you must submit the EXPORT COMPLIANCE PURCHASING FORM per the conditions outlined below.

Does your order meet any of the following conditions*?: 

  • Equipment that is over $2,000, excluding basic office supplies and equipment such as computers, laptops, printers 
  • If the manufacturer is located outside the U.S.  
  • If the purchasing paperwork includes export control language  
  • If the person who will use the equipment intends to hand carry or ship the equipment to another country  
3. Complete and submit the Export Compliance Purchasing Form

If you meet any of the conditions above, complete the Export Compliance Purchasing Form (also located on our Forms page) and submit it to [email protected].

To complete the form, you will need to obtain the Export Control Classification Number (ECCN) from the vendor or manufacturer. The ECCN is a five-digit number used to classify goods that are subject to export control restrictions.  If you encounter problems obtaining the ECCN, send a description of the item or software, a link to the website for the item if available, and the name of the vendor to [email protected]. We will contact the vendor and request the ECCN. The ECCN is not the same as the harmonized code, which is used to classify trade products.

Once we review the ECCN our office will inform you if there are any restrictions on the export of the items or software. 

Frequently Asked Questions
If the purchased item(s) or equipment need to be serviced, repaired or replaced and must be returned to a foreign vendor or manufacturer, contact [email protected] so we can determine whether an export license is required. See our International Shipments page for considerations on the export and shipping of items.
See our International Shipments page for considerations on the export and shipping of items.
Follow steps 1-3 outlined above. Once we review the ECCN, our office will inform you if there are any restrictions on who can use the equipment, items or software.
Contact us

Contact [email protected] for more information about purchasing

Back