Work Performed by an Approved Marketing & Communications Vendor
Step 1: Know your budget. Get estimates.
If you plan to outsource the creation of your material to an Approved Marketing & Communications Vendor, you should know your budget. For official estimates, contact an Approved Marketing & Communications Vendor. Review the Working with Approved Marketing & Communications Vendors page to see a list of draft emails to help you build estimates for specific media.
Step 2: Choose the Appropriate Procurement Path
Once you have received received estimates, identify an Approved Marketing & Communications Vendor based on anticipated costs:
- Purchases under $5,000: If you have received an estimate from an Approved Marketing & Communications Vendor that your purchase will be under $5,000, you may proceed to Step 3 and with development of your material.
- Purchases between $5,000-$75,000: If you have received an estimate from an Approved Marketing & Communications Vendor that your purchase will be between $5,000 – $75,000, you must solicit at least one other estimate from an Approved Marketing & Communications Vendor. Save these estimates as they must be submitted as part of your documentation to Procurement. Once you have received two estimates, you may proceed to Step 3 and with development of your material. Note that IT-related services (such as digital marketing, website design, and development) over $5,000 must also be approved by IT.
- Purchases above $75,000: If you have received an estimate from an Approved Marketing & Communications Vendor that your purchase will be above $75,000, you are required to issue a formal bid (if for a commodity such as printing) or solicit proposals (if for a service such as photography, videography or digital advertising). Please reach out to University Marketing & Communications for next steps.
Step 3: Work with the Approved Marketing & Communications Vendor to create your material
Work with the vendor to create your material. If you plan to work with an Approved Marketing & Communications Vendor on materials such as apparel, merchandise and promotional items, you are required to work with an official Licensee (LINK). Note that IT-related services (such as digital marketing, website design, and development) over $5,000 must also be approved by IT.
Step 4: Your vendor will submit your material for review
After your approval, your Approved Marketing & Communications Vendor should submit your material for brand review by completing this form in its entirety and uploading the file for review.
Step 4: The review
Your material will be reviewed within two (2) business days using the criteria listed on the Brand Review Process page. Note that University Marketing & Communications reserves the right to extend review of submissions for larger and more complicated projects, if necessary.
Step 5: Notification
Should your material be approved, the person submitting your material for approval will receive formal Brand Approval via email from brand@olemiss.edu. Be sure to save this formal notification as it will be required for the Procurement process.
If your material is not approved, a member of our Brand Services or Creative Services team will notify the person via email with a list of recommended revisions.
Once revisions are made, that person will be required to submit another brand request review form. Please select the “re-submission” option and follow the instructions. Expect another two (2) business days for review.
Step 6: Work with the selected Approved Marketing & Communications Vendor to purchase your deliverable
Once you have received brand approval, work with your selected Approved Marketing & Communications Vendor to purchase your deliverable based on anticipated costs:
- Purchases under $5,000: You may use a University Procurement card to purchase the material. Submit the Brand Approval Form along with your reconciliation documentation to Procurement.
- Purchases between $5,000-$75,000: Create a purchase requisition in SAP. Reference the Brand Approval Form and the submission file number in the header of your purchase requisition and no fewer than two estimates. Procurement will create a purchase order. Note the vendor’s official University vendor number. This number will be required for your purchase requisition.