Overview
This section outlines the regulatory flexibilities and increased procurement thresholds triggered when the head of an agency determines that supplies or services are required to support a contingency operation.
Key Rules
- Threshold Increases: The Micro-purchase threshold (MPT) and the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT) are both increased for acquisitions supporting contingency operations (as cross-referenced in FAR 2.101).
- SF 44 Limitations: Agencies are authorized to establish higher dollar limits for the use of the SF 44 (Purchase Order-Invoice-Voucher) beyond the standard micro-purchase limit when supporting such operations.
- Commercial Procedures: The dollar limits for using simplified procedures for certain commercial products and commercial services (under FAR Subpart 13.5) are elevated for contingency-related acquisitions.
- Agency Head Determination: These increased flexibilities are not automatic; they require a determination by the head of the agency that the requirements are specifically for contingency support.
Practical Implications
- Procurement Speed: Contracting officers can utilize streamlined acquisition methods for significantly larger dollar amounts, reducing the time required to get critical supplies and services to the field.
- Administrative Relief: Higher thresholds for SF 44s and simplified procedures allow for more flexible on-the-spot purchasing and less formal documentation requirements during emergency or military operations.