Subpart 5113.2 - Actions At or Below the

Micro-Purchase Threshold

Parent topic: Part 5113 - Simplified Acquisition Procedures

5113.201 General.

(a) Delegation of micro-purchase authority.

(i) The Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology) has management

responsibility of the purchase card program. See Appendix GG for further delegation. The senior

contracting official designates the Level 3 agency/organization program coordinator (A/OPC) (see

Appendix EE), with final approval and endorsement of the Level 3 A/OPC by the Level 2 A/OPC in

writing.

(ii) Installation commanders or activity directors shall appoint the purchase card approving official

as the certifying officer for purposes of certifying payments to the paying office (disbursing officer)

for purchase card issuer invoices. Certifying officers are financially liable for erroneous payments

resulting from the performance of their duties in accordance with Title 31, United States Code,

section 3328.

(iii) CCOs shall do the following:

(A) Develop internal operating procedures and incorporate appropriate controls in the command or

installation Internal Control Program; however, the Level 3 A/OPC will develop written Government

purchase card (GPC) program internal control requirements, reporting mechanisms and surveillance

plans for all activities under their purview. Procedures and controls shall place minimum burdens on

cardholders while still maintaining the integrity of the program.

(B) Designate the Level 4 A/OPC.

(C) Issue delegations of authority to cardholders. The CCO may further delegate this authority in

writing to the A/OPC.

(D) Approve training course content and instructor qualifications.

(E) Ensure prescribed training of cardholders and approving officials.

(F) Ensure appropriate functional participation in the development and administration of the

program (e.g., finance and accounting, director of logistics, director of public works, legal counsel,

etc.).

(G) Perform oversight reviews on approving officials to ensure cardholder adherence to policy and

procedures.

(1) Conduct reviews not less frequently than annually.

(2) Review accounts with significant dollar or transaction volume on a more frequent basis.

(H) Ensure the safeguarding of convenience checks to ensure good stewardship and discourage and
detect fraudulent actions with the checking accounts. Ensure the proper auditing of checking

accounts on a quarterly basis. A duly appointed, disinterested third party will conduct audits. The

management control checklist of the GPC must include the quarterly audit requirement.

(iv) A/OPCs shall –

(A) Serve as the purchase card focal point at each activity;

(B) Establish, and maintain current cardholder and approving official accounts;

(C) Coordinate with resource managers, spending limits and finance and accounting data used in

establishing cardholder and approving official accounts;

(D) Not establish accounts or allow the certification of invoices by billing officials until the CCO or

A/OPC issues required letters of delegations and appointment letters to cardholders and approving

officials/certifying officials; and

(E) Perform oversight and surveillance of all accounts under the purview of that A/OPC.

(v) Approving officials shall –

(A) Ensure that the transactions are legal, proper, necessary and correct in accordance with

Government rules and regulations;

(B) Ensure that adequate documentation is available for individual transactions;

(C) Ensure the facts presented in documents for payment are complete and accurate;

(D) Take appropriate action to prevent two or more payments for the same transaction;

(E) Ensure proper implementation of dispute procedures when questions arise on transactions;

(F) Provide copy of certifying officer appointment letter with signature card to the A/OPC; and

(G) Certify and forward the official invoice to the paying office within five days of receipt. Consider

electronic invoice received on the first day following the end of the billing cycle.

(vi) Cardholders shall do the following:

(A) Reconcile purchases actually made within three working days of receipt of their monthly

statement of account. Consider electronic statement of account received on the first day following

the end of the billing cycle.

(B) Maintain a log of purchases. The log shall be the cardholder log within the bank’s electronic

access system.

(c) Training r equirements.

(i) The CCO or A/OPC shall not delegate authority to cardholders and billing/certifying officials until

these individuals receive training and orientation covering the use of the card. The Defense

Acquisition University purchase card course is mandatory for all cardholders and billing officials.

Locally developed training is permissible, but it must specifically cover federal, defense, and

departmental regulations, policies and procedures pertaining to micro-purchases and simplified

acquisition procedures, as applicable. Orientation shall address GSA, card-issuing bank and
installation-unique policies.

(ii) Cardholders and certifying officials shall receive procurement ethics training. Training shall

advise cardholders and certifying officials of financial liability under the program for certifying and

accountable officials.

(iii) The CCO may require additional training depending on the thresholds and circumstances

established for the card’s use.

(g) The head of the contracting activity shall make the determination as described in FAR 13.201(g).

See Appendix GG for further delegation.

5113.202-90 Purchase guidelines.

(a) CCOs or A/OPCs should delegate micro-purchase authority to the lowest possible level. A/OPCs

shall issue purchase cards only to individuals who have received the orientation/training on the

purchase card program as required in these procedures.

(b) CCOs and A/OPCs shall not issue cards to contractors. If contractors working on cost type

contracts request cards, the contractor will forward their request to the contracting officer for the

cost-reimbursable contract. If that office preliminarily determines that they are eligible, the

contractor will then file a request for eligibility determination with the GSA SmartPay contracting

officer.

(c) CCOs or A/OPCs may authorize cardholders to utilize the GPC as a payment instrument for

orders exceeding $3,000 made against Federal Supply Schedule contracts, calls written against a

blanket purchase agreement or orders placed against indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity

contracts that contain a provision authorizing payment by purchase card.

(d) The purchase card may also provide a streamlined way of paying for contracts other than those

listed in paragraph (c). Prior to using the card this way, the contracting office shall determine that

use of the card for payment is in the best interest of the Government. The determination shall

address any increase in price and/or administrative costs to use the card versus the costs of

processing the payment without the card.

(e) The purchase card may also be used to pay for Government-owned materiel or Governmentperformed services received from other Government sources (i.e., Document Automated Printing

Service (DAPS), GSA, Defense Logistics Agency).

5113.270-90 Use of the Government commercial purchase card.

Appendix EE contains the Army’s GPC operating procedures. Use of the purchase card must meet

the following conditions in addition to conditions imposed by the GSA’s SmartPay Master Contract:

(a) Each transaction should involve a single delivery and payment. Receipt of the item should be

within the billing cycle or by the time of receipt of the monthly report to simplify monthly

reconciliation.

(b) Cardholders shall not break down (split) requirements into several purchases merely to avoid any

requirement that applies to purchases exceeding the micro-purchase threshold.
(c) Cardholders shall advise merchants or vendors at the time of the transaction that items

purchased with the card are “for Official United States Government use.” Most states will exempt

purchases made by the Government from state and local taxes.

(d) Cardholders shall initially attempt to settle disputes with the merchant. If the merchant refuses

to work with the cardholder, or if 45 days have passed without resolution since receipt of the

statement containing the questionable transaction, the cardholders shall formally dispute the

transaction with the card-issuing bank.

(e) When using the purchase card to pay for services and/or supplies received from other

Government sources (i.e., DAPS, GSA) stores or depots, Defense Logistics Agency, procurement

thresholds do not apply. Payment with the card is mandatory for services obtained from the DAPS.

(f) Army organizations have the authority to use the GPC up to micro-purchase thresholds at DoD

nonappropriated fund instrumentalities (NAFIs), including Army and Air Force Exchange Service

facilities, provided the resale activities are within scope of the particular NAFI’s charter. Overseas

organizations may make purchases up to $50,000 from exchanges only (vice NAFIs) and may use the

purchase card as a method of payment.

(g) Use the purchase card as a method of payment for all commercial training $25,000 and below for

the following:

(1) Standard Form 182, Authorization, Agreement and Certification of Training, in accordance with

United States Code 41 for civilians.

(2) Department of the Army Form 2171, Request for Tuition Assistance Army Continuing Education

System, provides financial assistance for voluntary off-duty education Programs in support of

soldiers’ professional and personal self development. The Department of the Army Form 2171 is the

obligation document for education programs and services authorized under 10 U.S.C. 2007 and

Army Regulation 621-5 Army Continuing Education System. The Tuition Assistance Program

authorizes advance payments in accordance with Army Regulation 621-5. Training and education

office personnel must approve all course enrollments prior to start of class.

(3) Use of the GPC is mandatory as the method of payment for soldiers’ tuition when the Centralized

Tuition Assistance Management in GoArmyEd processes the request, funding, approval and

enrollment verification of the specific course. Single purchase limits will be set commensurate to the

level of the consolidated GPC invoice submitted by each university or college.

(h) The following dollar limits apply:

(1) For standalone purchases, the single purchase limit is the micro-purchase threshold except for

the following:

(i) $2,000 for purchases covered by the Wage Rate Requirements (Construction) statute.

(ii) $2,500 for purchases covered by the Service Contract Labor Standards statute.

(2) For payment against existing contracts, the limit is as identified in the contract.

(3) For convenience checks and drafts, the threshold is $3,000 except as noted in paragraphs (h)(1)

and (2) in this subsection.

(4) For contingency or humanitarian operations as authorized in a specific appropriations act or an
Executive Order, the applicable act or order may adjust the micro-purchase threshold.