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P-card Holders

For questions about your P-card, please e-mail us at: pcard@mcpsmd.org, or contact the Procurement Unit at 240-740-7600.

*NEW*

We now have a global Amazon Business account. Purchasing rules still apply. Please do not purchase items which we have on bid from Amazon. Exclusions also include: Equipment, furniture, technology products, and janitorial products. All items purchased from Amazon on the MCPS purchasing card must be shipped to an MCPS location.

Amazon Business Account Memo

MCPS Purchasing Card

The MCPS Purchasing Card ("P-card") Program streamlines the process of buying items that are not on a bid list and cost $500 or less. Each card has a separate account that goes to the school or location using the card.

Purchasing Card (P-card) Training: First time card holders: Do not sign up for any online or in-person training until you are invited or instructed to do so. Once your request for a card is received and the card is ordered, you will receive information regarding the training requirement. Purchasing card users are required to complete a training and sign the "Purchasing Card Agreement". Training consists of an online module, an in-person activation of the card, and assistance with the set-up of your account at the Procurement Office located at 45 W. Gude Road.

Occasional additional training may be required to meet regulations.

For more information or to sign up for P-Card training, please contact Kimberly Houser at Kimberly_M_Houser@mcpsmd.org.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How do I get to the J.P. Morgan Payment Net web site ?
    You may use the Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge browser to access the site. Open the browser, and go to https://www.paymentnet.jpmorgan.com 
  • Where is the MCPS tax-exempt number located on the Purchasing Card?
    In the lower left-hand corner. *Do not pay sales tax. MCPS is tax exempt. If tax is inadvertently charged, please contact the merchant for a credit or return the item. As a cardholder, you are personally responsible for all sales tax charged.
  • How do I know what my transaction limit is?
    • Shown in PaymentNet
    • Shown on the approving official’s monthly report
    • Contact the Procurement Unit at pcard@mcpsmd.org 
  • Who determines the per-month limit?
    The approving official in collaboration with the program administrator *Monthly limit may not exceed $1,500 unless approved by the program administrator.
  • How can I tell which of my cards to use with each account?
    The number listed after your name identifies the account.
  • Who is the "approving official" on the Approving Official Acknowledgement form 234-22?
    The approving official is the account owner. This would be a school principal, director, associate, or chief.
  • What types of transactions CANNOT be made with the Purchasing Card?
    Travel, furniture, entertainment, food at restaurants, cash access, gasoline, split transactions, and gift cards. Also, items available in the catalog search bar on the MCPS Business Hub are awarded to the vendor in the Hub. Do not purchase these items on the purchasing card unless you are using the awarded vendor.
  • Where should online purchases be shipped?
    Any and all purchases must be shipped to your work location. It is prohibited to have shipments delivered to a non-MCPS location.
  • Can other individuals use my card?
    No. The cardholder can call a vendor to place the order. Another staff member can pick up the order after showing the vendor appropriate MCPS ID.
  • Can I use the same card for every school account; i.e., 02, 03, SpEd, 05?
    No. You will receive a separate card for each account.
  • Who should make the purchasing card purchases at a location?
    Any staff with a financial role (financial specialists, fiscal specialists, elementary administrative secretaries) should have the primary p-card purchasing role. Some resourse staff or specialists may have cards and their purchases should be monitored by financial staff.
  • Should I pay MasterCard when I receive my monthly statement?
    No. This is your summary of your monthly card activity. Money will automatically be deducted from your accounts. You will receive an invoice from the Controller’s Office for your 05 account.
  • What steps should I take with a disputed charge?
    First, contact supplier to try to resolve the issue.
    Second, if no resolution, contact MasterCard, 1-800-270-7760, and have the transaction placed in dispute.
  • Should returned goods be handled as a separate transaction?
    Yes. Items should be returned (not exchanged) and new orders placed.
  • What should I do if I accidently used my instructional card for an IAF or personal purchase?  
      • Please write a personal check payable to MCPS and complete the deposit log form 280-92.  In the section “Business HUB Account String” please make sure you indicate the entire account string for your instructional account.
      • Attach a copy of your statement that shows the purchase.
      • Keep a copy of the form/check in your audit file along with the statement.
      • Send/PONY the form and check to Division of Controller, Suite 3200, 45 W. Gude, Rockville
  • What should I do if I accidently used my IAF (05 card) for a personal purchase? 
      • Update JP Morgan transaction notes online detailing the issue.
          • Please write a personal check payable to your school and deposit into your school’s cash account.
          • Please keep a copy of the check and deposit slip with your statement.
  • What should I do if I used my IAF (05 card) when it should have been charged on the Instructional Materials card?
      • Update JP Morgan transaction notes online detailing the issue
      • These charges will appear on the MCPS iPayment invoice. After that invoice is paid, complete a School Reimbursement form 280-48. In the section "Business Hub Account String" please make sure to indicate the entire account string for your instructional account.
      • Attach a copy of the iPayment invoice, receipt for the payment, and receipts/invoice for the original charge to the form.
      • Keep a copy of the form/documentation in your audit file along with the statement.
      • Send/PONY the form to the Division of Controller, Suite 3200, 45 W. Gude Drive, Rockville, MD.
  • What are the steps to be taken with lost or stolen cards?
  • • First, contact MasterCard at 1-800-270-7760
    • Second, contact the Procurement Unit at 301-279-3555 or pcard@mcpsmd.org
  • How do I cancel or make changes to an existing MasterCard account?
    Complete and submit the File Maintenance Worksheet, MCPS Form 234-20, which is available as a PDF form.
  • How do I request cards for new staff members or additional accounts for already enrolled staff?
    Complete and submit the Approving Official Acknowledgement form, MCPS Form 234-22, which is available as a PDF form.
  • What if I mistakenly make a personal purchase on my MCPS Purchasing Card?
    Have the merchant (vendor) credit the MCPS Purchasing Card.
  • What do I do if sales tax has been charged to the purchasing card?
    Contact the vendor to request a credit. If you are unable to receive a credit from the merchant for the sales tax, you must personally reimburse MCPS for the sales tax which was charged.
  • What if the original documentation is missing or incomplete?
    Contact the vendor to obtain a duplicate copy.
  • What are the consequences if a cardholder continuously fails to comply with the purchasing card policies?
    The approving official can revoke or suspend the purchasing privileges of the cardholder.
  • Can I use the purchasing card for grants?
    Not at this time; but grants in the 05 are acceptable.
  • Where can I locate the Purchasing Card forms?
    • On the MCPS Forms website and the Procurement Unit website, https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/forms/pdf/234-22.pdf
    • Contact pcard@mcpsmd.org
  • Does the card go with me if I transfer to another MCPS location?
    No. Your card is attached to the specific account (s) at your school.
  • Is my personal credit affected if the card is lost or stolen?
    No. The card is the property of MCPS.
  • If personal information such as my social security number or marital status is asked about by the Pcard vendor, should I answer?
    Yes. You should only be asked for the last 4 digits of your social security number. 
  • While in PaymentNet, am I able to approve or review all outstanding transactions at one time by selecting items across multiple pages?
    No, you must select and review items one page at a time.  Selecting items on more than one page will deselect items on all pages other than the one currently being viewed.  This is also true when using the Mass Update function. 
    • Using a different Internet browser.
    • Clearing the browser cookies, cache, or temporary files.
    • Software or hardware profile changes. 
  • Why am I required to request an access code to register my computer, if I’m using the same computer that I have registered in the past?
    For security purposes, your user ID must be registered to each computer you use when logging in, or you must enter an access code. This helps prevent access by unauthorized users. Other events may require you to re-register a previously registered computer.
  • What about Amazon purchases?                                                                                                                                                Amazon purchases should only be made if the item would have been a non-catalog request over $500 for an item not on bid with MCPS. If you must make an Amazon purchase, please use an MCPS buiness Amazon account. Do not use a personal Amazon account. Any items must purchased on your purchasing card must always be shipped to an MCPS location.
  • How do I ensure that orders placed on Amazon.com are not charged sales tax?
    Only use the MCPS Amazon Business account for orders placed on the MCPS purchasing card (see Memo above).
  • Am I required to update my J. P. Morgan PaymentNet password?
    Yes, passwords must be changed every 90 days.