(a) Micro-purchase authority should be delegated to the lowest possible level. Purchase cards shall be issued only to individuals who have received the orientation/training on the purchase card program as required in these procedures.
(b) Contracting Officers shall not issue cards to contractors. If contractors working on cost type contracts request cards, their request shall be forwarded to the contracting officer for the cost-reimbursable contract. If that office determines that they are eligible, the contractor will then file a Request for Eligibility Determination with the GSA SmartPay Contracting Officer.
(c) Cardholders may be authorized to utilize the Government Purchase Card as a payment instrument for orders exceeding $3,000 made against Federal Supply Schedule contracts, calls written against a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) or orders placed against Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) 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 above. 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 government-performed services received from other government sources (i.e., DAPS, GSA, DLA).
[AFARS Revision #21, dated May 22, 2007]
