Statewide Card Policy

First, the agency must submit a written request to the State Program Administrator, requesting to participate in the program. This letter should be requested by the Department head or their designee.

Begin by forming a Purchasing Card Team - a cross-functional team that will work together to plan the design of your program internally. Implementing a Purchasing Card Program is essentially a reengineering effort and requires planning and change. Team members should be representatives from purchasing, finance/ accounting, technology/information systems, auditing and a representative for the typical user/department. Some things for the Team to consider:

• Set program goals - What types of requisitions and purchase orders are you looking to eliminate. Where can you save time and expense by reengineering the process? What dollar volume and number of transactions does this represent?
• Select an Agency Program Administrator - The Department Head will be responsible for designating the Agency Purchasing Card Program Administrator. The Agency Program Administrator will be responsible for keeping abreast of program updates as they are posted on the Office of State Purchasing, 'LaCarte' Procurement Card Program website and disseminating this information to the Department Heads, cardholders, and any other agency personnel as deemed appropriate.
• Evaluate your vendor environment - do your vendors already accept Visa®? Is vendor recruitment necessary for the types of purchases targeted?
• Begin to think about which employees should receive cards - cardholders should be those people who regularly submit requisitions and purchase orders, or make frequent small dollar purchases, such as on a blanket, field or local purchase order.

Program Highlights

• Custom designed Louisiana 'LaCarte' Card
• Management reporting software available
• Ongoing support from Bank of America
• Available to government entities and eligible political subdivisions and local governments
• Visa® - Worldwide highly accepted card
• OSP provides for Train-the-Trainer

Agency Benefits:

• Simplifies the purchasing process and automates the payment process
• Allows value added time for large dollar purchases
• Enhances accountability
• Effective management tools

Cardholder Benefits

• Convenience of purchasing without local, field or blanket purchase order
• Expedites receipt of goods
• Empowerment of cardholder

Vendors Benefits:

• Improves Cash Flow
• Expedites payment – usually paid within three (3) days
• Reduces paperwork - No more invoices!
• Eliminates payment research