how to get an inventory item to order without having to manipulate the contract?

Items marked as inventory on the item master and to an expired contract will not order Purchasing Contract.

It fall into the Sourcing Workbench with error "The contract specified on the transaction is not valid at this time."

If the items are not marked as inventory they will order.

I thought if a contract expired that the item would order from the item master without any issues. I have noticed that is not always the case if the item is marked inventory.

The only way to clear this error and pull the item over to a PO is change the expiration date on the contract. Then the Buyer is able to get the item on a PO and the order is placed.