Last revised (Transmittal 14-020) October 19, 2023

Guide to Judiciary Policy

Vol. 14: Procurement

Ch. 1: Overview

Appx. 1F: Contracting Officers’ Certification Program – Level 3

(Note: The entire chart must be read to determine the authorities and limitations of 

Level 3.)

Training Required for Level 3 Certification – Judiciary Procurement Workshop 

(classroom training), plus Small Purchase Procedures, Standard Competitive 

Contracting Procedures, and Appropriations Law for the U.S. Courts. Level 3 COs must 

also complete a minimum of 16 hours of continuing education every two years.

Contracting Officers’ Certification Program – Level 3

Dollars Conditions

Up to $100,000 small purchases and competitive procurements: see other 

conditions below

Unlimited judiciary-wide and other agency contracts: see other 

conditions below

Types of Actions

Noncompetitive open market 

procurements

up to $10,000 for all purchases (other than training products 

or services)

up to $25,000 for training products and services

above $10,000 but not more than $25,000 for products and 

services (other than training products or services) with signed 

approval of the chief judge or other judiciary official

Competitive Small Purchase 

Open Market Purchase 

Orders

Competitive lowest price technically acceptable procurement 

up to $100,000: delegated

Commercial/License/Special 

Use Agreements

as supplements and conditions to purchases conducted within 

the authorized delegation: delegated

Contract Modifications within scope modifications up to $100,000: delegated

Orders Under Contracts 

Awarded by Judiciary or 

Other Federal Agencies

Authorized for competitive lowest price technically acceptable 

orders placed under:

(1) GSA federal supply schedules up to the specified 

maximum order threshold.
Guide to Judiciary Policy, Vol. 1, Appx. 1F Page 2

Contracting Officers’ Certification Program – Level 3

(2) Other precompeted contracts awarded by other federal 

agencies up to the maximum order threshold of the 

contract.

(3) Judiciary-wide contracts delegated up to the maximum 

order, if any, of the contract.

Interagency Agreements 

(IAs) and Memoranda of 

Understanding (MOUs) for 

Procurements

Interagency agreements and memoranda of understanding for 

procurements when the judiciary is the receiving agency: 

delegated up to $100,000 when approved by the chief judge 

or other judiciary official identified at § 120.20.10(b) 

(Delegation to Chief Judges and Certain Judiciary Officials)

(or PLO, if delegated) prior to signing.

When the judiciary is the providing agency, this is not 

delegated and the request must be submitted to the PE for 

processing.

Procurement Method

Other Than Full And Open 

Competition Procurements

Unlimited:

(1) Transit Passes/Vouchers

(2) Purchase of non-commercial products or services only 

available from state/local government entities

up to $10,000: all purchases (other than training products or 

services)

up to $25,000: training products and services

above $10,000 but not more than $25,000: products and 

services (other than training products or services) with signed 

approval of the chief judge or other judiciary official

All other non-competitive purchases exceeding the applicable 

competition threshold: not delegated.

Lowest Price Technically 

Acceptable Competitive 

Open Market Procurements

up to $100,000: delegated

Best Value Competitive 

Procurements

not delegated

Products/Services

Products delegated: to be used only up to the authorized dollar limits of 

Level 3
Guide to Judiciary Policy, Vol. 1, Appx. 1F Page 3

Contracting Officers’ Certification Program – Level 3

Services delegated: to be used only up to the authorized dollar limits of 

Level 3

Experts and Consultants 

pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 3109

up to $25,000: delegated (see also: Guide, Vol. 14, Ch. 5 

(Special Categories of Procurements)) 

For FPD case-related experts and consultants, see: Guide, 

Vol. 14, Appx. 1E (Contracting Officers’ Certification Program 

– Level 2 Special Delegated Procurement Programs).

Space Alteration not delegated; court units must use GSA Reimbursable Work 

Authorization (RWA) 

Lease of Real Property not delegated

Architect/Engineering 

Services

not delegated