Overview
This section prescribes the simplified procedures for soliciting, evaluating, and awarding micro-purchases. It emphasizes administrative efficiency by allowing for non-competitive awards and limiting documentation requirements when the price is deemed reasonable.
Key Rules
- Equitable Distribution: To the extent practicable, micro-purchases must be distributed among a variety of qualified suppliers rather than repeatedly using the same source.
- Non-Competitive Awards: Competition is not required for micro-purchases if the Contracting Officer (or authorized individual) considers the price to be reasonable.
- Price Reasonableness Threshold: Active verification of price reasonableness is only mandatory if the official suspects the price is unreasonable or if the item is unique with no readily available comparable pricing data.
- Administrative Efficiency: The regulation explicitly notes that the cost of verifying price reasonableness often exceeds the potential savings from identifying overpricing in micro-purchases.
- Documentation Requirements: Formal documentation is minimal; however, if competition was solicited and the award was not given to the lowest quoter, the agency must document the solicited concerns and the rationale for the award.
Practical Implications
- This section enables government personnel to use the Government Purchase Card (GPC) for quick, "spot-buy" acquisitions without the lengthy solicitation process required for higher-dollar contracts.
- Contracting officials must balance the "path of least resistance" (using the same vendor) with the regulatory requirement to rotate suppliers and ensure the government is not being overcharged for unique or specialty items.