How do I determine if the item I want to buy is equipment or supplies?

Equipment is defined as a single item, a multiple-purchase “system” or a “fabrication” with a useful life of more than one year and a unit cost of at least $5,000, unless the university has a lower limit. A “system” can be made up of many items that must interact with each other and, when added up, total $5,000 or more. A fabrication is just like a system except it cannot provide useful results right away.