Central Receiving

 The primary responsibility of Central Receiving is to receive, distribute, and ship material for the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAHuntsville) Community.  As a clearinghouse for merchandise acquired by Procurement Services, Central Receiving ensures merchandise delivery that is as quick and damage-free as possible.  Central Receiving also processes outgoing shipments in the most expedient and cost effective manner.

Central Receiving performs the following functions:

• Receives all parcels and packages shipped to the University
• Delivers (daily) parcels and packages to respective individuals and departments
• Processes and dispatch all outgoing shipments
• Provides temporary and long-term storage of durable and expendable goods
• Requisitioning, receipt, storage and safeguarding of industrial gases and alcohol products 
• Coordinates with auction agency for disposal/sale of surplus property

Central Receiving is located in the Central Receiving Building on John Wright Drive.

Receiving Procedures

Expecting and shipping a package
Central Receiving is the central location for receiving University-purchased items, unless otherwise indicated on the Purchase Order.  Central Receiving will deliver received items to the departments.  Equipment delivered directly to the departments by the vendor must be reported immediately to Inventory Control.  Departments must inspect packages to insure correctness of the contents and to check for possible damage to the contents.  Any damage must be reported within five days to the Buyer.
Central Receiving also provides a complete shipping facility capable of handling any size package or freight item.  Central Receiving has the authority to ship all official University merchandise.  All shipments must include a departmental account number to which the shipping will be charged.

Equipment Management
All computer and audio/visual equipment over $500 and laboratory equipment over $2000 will be tagged with a non-capital equipment bar code label.  All equipment over $5000 will be tagged with a capital equipment bar code label.  Inventory Control conducts a campus-wide survey every two years.  The accountability for equipment lies, however, with the Budget Unit Head, who is responsible for all property assigned to his or her area.  Call Inventory Control for information concerning:

• Controlling property
• Equipment screening
• Disposing of surplus and/or obsolete equipment 
• Obtaining surplus material and equipment

Inventory Control functions primarily as a data collection center.  The accuracy of their data records depends on the cooperation of the departments to inform Inventory Control of equipment changes.  Departments should notify Inventory Control of any equipment changes or transfers by completing the Property/Relocation Transfer Form (INV Form #010, Rev. 05/05 available for download from the forms page or at the UAH Copy Center).