Food Purchases
CONDITIONS FOR MEALS
All conditions for meals, light refreshments, candidate meals, and WSU official visitor meals must be met in order to use University funds.
University monies may be used to pay for meals if ALL of the following conditions are met (seeBPPM: 70.31):
- The meal must be essential to the completeness (i.e., an integral part) of an official University meeting or training session, AND
- The University must require that the employee attend the meeting or formal training session, AND
- The purpose of the event must be to conduct WSU Official business or to provide formal training to WSU employees
University monies may be used to pay for light refreshments if the following conditions are met:
- The purpose of the meeting must be to conduct official WSU business or to provide formal training to WSU employees
- The light refreshments must be essential for the completeness (i.e., an integral part) of an official University meeting or training session
*Light refreshments, by definition, include nonalcoholic beverages and edible items commonly served between meals
WSU may pay a qualified prospective employee the necessary travel expenses related to their employment interview which includes candidate meals. See RCW 43.03.130.
- Candidate meals do not require a request to serve food form regardless of funding type
- A List of Attendees is required
WSU may pay for an Official WSU Visitor’s meals or Speaker’s meals while conducting WSU Official Business or for entertainment purposes.
- If the meal is to conduct WSU Official Business the meal may be paid with State or Grant funding, see Food Matrix.
- Request to serve food form IS required
- If the meal is for entertainment purposes discretionary funding (17A) must be used
- Request to serve food form is not required
- A List of Attendees is required
REQUEST TO SERVE FOOD FORM
A request to serve food form is used to obtain prior approval to pay for meals or light refreshments. The request form must include a list of participants and purpose of the event.
- The responsible Chair or Director must sign the request form at least five working days before the event, see BPPM 70.31.
Click here for the RTSF form.
WHEN IS A REQUEST TO SERVE FOOD FORM REQUIRED?
A request to serve food form is required to pay for meal or light refreshment purchases. Note: There are instances when a request to serve food form is not required, see Food Matrix.
WHERE TO ROUTE THE COMPLETED REQUEST TO SERVE FOOD FORM
Please attach the approved request to serve food form to the invoice (or invoice voucher) and route to Accounts Payable.
- For Purchasing Card transactions, attach the approved request to serve food form to the monthly purchasing card reconciliation.
PER DIEM RATES
Per Diem is the allowance for meals, lodging (excluding taxes), and incidental expenses. The General Services Administration (GSA) establishes per diem rates for destinations within the lower 48 Continental United States.
| Breakfast | $14.00 | $14.00 | $15.00 | $16.00 | $18.00 | $19.00 |
| Lunch | $16.00 | $17.00 | $18.00 | $20.00 | $21.00 | $23.00 |
| Dinner | $25.00 | $25.00 | $28.00 | $30.00 | $32.00 | $34.00 |
| M&I Total | $55.00 | $56.00 | $61.00 | $66.00 | $71.00 | $76.00 |
| Pullman | $55.00 |
| Spokane | $61.00 |
| Vancouver | $66.00 |
| Tri-Cities | $61.00 |
| Everett | $66.00 |
| Olympia | $71.00 |
| Seattle | $76.00 |
| Puyallup | $66.00 |
| Wenatchee | $55.00 |
| Prosser | $61.00 |
