Each day hundreds of vendors and contractors come onto campus to provide services to the university. Transportation & Parking (TAP) recognize that vendors and contractors are a critical facet of campus life. However, the university has limited parking facilities to satisfy the parking demand of these visitors and the normal number of staff, faculty, and students. Therefore, it is essential the university have clear and concise policies and procedures to accommodate the vendors and contractors who have business on campus.

Vendors and Contractors Defined

The 3 types of vendors and contractors that conduct business on the URI campus include:

1. Those who perform services to university facilities in easily recognizable “branded/logo” vehicles.
   
   Because these companies have a service arrangement with the university, it is assumed that the volume or special discount that the university enjoys includes provisions to provide parking and access to the university.
   
   This access provision should be addressed in all future agreements and or contracts by university supervising departments, purchasing, or the contracting agency.
   
   The cost of a Vendor Permit will be included in the university contract. The sponsoring university entity will ensure the university’s interest are protected during contract negotiations. TAP must be informed of any contractual commitment concerning parking or access.
   
   Parking:

• No permits will be issued.
• No additional cost will be charged for access or parking on campus.
• This type of vendor or contractor may park in any:
  • University loading zone (LZ).
  • Service Spaces/Areas.
  • Areas approved by TAP; or
  • University surface lots for no longer than 20 minutes with emergency flashers.

2. Those who have a service contract with the university and conduct their business in unmarked vehicles. These types of vendors or contractors are supervised by URI departments or agencies such as Facilities Services, Housing and Food Services, Telecommunications, Athletics, and Environmental Health and Safety, and others. The supervising department must coordinate their parking needs with TAP.  
   
   Parking Options:

• The first option is for the vendor to purchase a Vendor Permit for one or all the company’s authorized vehicles. If there are multiple vehicles the company must coordinate with TAP to determine the number of permits and the process to identify the vehicles.
  
  The cost of purchasing a permit will be the annual, or monthly. The cost of the annual permit is $300 (July 1^st – June 30^th). The cost of a monthly permit is $60.
  
  Upon final access agreement, the vendor or contractor may park:

• In any university loading zone (LZ).
• Any service area.
• In university surface lots approved by TAP.
• In area coordinated between the university department and TAP.

• The second option is for vendors who visit the campus infrequently can purchase either a daily visitor passes or use the hourly meter lots/spaces.
  • The cost of a daily visitor pass is $6/day and can be purchased online here.
  • The cost of purchasing metered parking ranges from $1.50/hour up to $10/day. Please download the AMP Metered Parking app to see available metered parking areas and the options/ costs associated with each lot.

3. Those who have no contractual relationship with URI and conduct business from unmarked vehicles. Consultants and salespersons usually fit this category.

• These individuals will not be provided free access to the campus.
• They will be referred to use either daily visitor passes, metered parking or to purchase an annual or monthly parking permit at the existing rate.
• If a sponsoring department or agency wishes to pay for this vendor parking, the department must coordinate with TAP to get a quote for an IVPO.
• If special parking locations are needed other than a university visitor lots, it must be coordinated with TAP.

Vendor Permit

Vendor Permits are issued by TAP to a company or corporation that provides services to The University of Rhode Island. This classification does not include sales representatives, consultants, or contractor. Vendors may park in any university Loading Zone (LZ), Service Area, or Loading Dock.  If a surface lot space is used, every effort must be made to complete the service in 20 minutes with the emergency lights flashing and excludes Reserved spaces. Vendor Permits are issued to the following groups of vendors:

• Contract Vendors — TAP must be informed of any contractual commitment concerning vehicle parking or access. The vendor or university department coordinating the Vendor permit is required to provide payment for the permit, and the cost of parking will be included in the university contract.  The sponsoring university entity will ensure the university’s interests are protected during contract negotiations.
• Daily Vendors — Salespersons, consultants, or other commercial agencies that are not university sponsored vendors will be referred to use either daily visitor passes, metered parking or coordinate with TAP to purchase an annual or monthly parking permit at the existing rate.
• Logo Vendors — Vendors who service the campus in easily recognizable brand/logo vehicles will not be required to purchase a permit.

NOTE: It is the responsibility of the sponsoring university department or agency to make the determination as to the type of services being provided to the university and to notify TAP in writing.

For contracts that are currently in existence: TAP will honor existing agreements until they expire. The intent is to prevent new agreements with the vendors and/or service providers from providing free parking on The University of Rhode Island campus. TAP will work with the University departments to provide current access. The supervising department will identify the vendor and/or contractor access and parking requirements. TAP will issue temporary permits or daily passes. Exact parking areas will be coordinated with TAP and the department. If the current contract precludes the vendor from purchasing the parking, it will be provided by TAP.