Request a Software Purchase

Use This Request To

Use this request to buy or subscribe to a software product, app, or online service that Bowdoin does not already provide.

When to Use This

Use this offering when:

  • You want a software product or app that is not on the College-Provided Software List.
  • You are starting a new paid subscription for a course, for research, or for your department.
  • You want to buy or subscribe to an AI tool or a cloud-based service.
  • A vendor, grant, or funder requires the College to purchase the product.
  • You already have a quote and are ready to buy.

When NOT to Use This

Don't use this offering if:

  • You just want pricing and are not ready to buy yet. Use Request a Software Quote.
  • You just need software you already have access to installed on your computer. Many titles install on their own from Self Service on macOS or Company Portal on Windows. If you need help, use Request Software Install in the Related Services section.
  • You need more seats or a renewal for software Bowdoin already owns. Use Add Licenses to Existing Software.
  • You are buying hardware only, with no new software. Use Hardware Purchasing in the Related Services section.
  • You are reporting a problem with software you already use. Contact the Service Desk at (207) 725-3030 or servicedesk@bowdoin.edu.

Before You Submit

Having these ready speeds things up:

  • The product name and the vendor's website.
  • What you will use it for, and who will use it (just you, a department, a class, all students, and so on).
  • What kind of Bowdoin data it would use or store. See the Data Classification Policy in the Related Articles section if you are unsure. "I don't know" is a valid answer on the form.
  • The number of licenses or seats you need, the cost if you know it, and your funding source or cost center.
  • Your desired start or go-live date, and any vendor documents you already have (a quote, a HECVAT for security, or a VPAT or ACR for accessibility).

What Happens Next

We acknowledge your request within 2-3 business days. When a product is new to Bowdoin and meant for institutional use, we run a security and accessibility review before the purchase, and the two reviews run at the same time to keep it quick. A full review usually takes 1 to 2 business weeks. A one-off purchase for a single person is usually faster. We confirm a target date, tell you if a purchase over $500 needs budget planning or a Computer Allocation Process request, and follow up with any questions before we place the order.