FAR 13.3—Subpart 13.3

Governmentwide commercial purchase card.

FAR 13.301 explains when and how the Governmentwide commercial purchase card may be used in federal buying. It covers the card’s authorized uses for purchasing and paying for supplies, services, and construction; who may use the card; the requirement that use be limited to purchases otherwise authorized by law or regulation; and the agency’s duty to establish internal procedures for card use and control. It also addresses the relationship between the card and Treasury Financial Manual requirements, the current GSA credit card contract, and the need to avoid unnecessarily restricting card use to micro-purchases. In addition, it encourages broader use by contracting officers for higher-dollar purchases when appropriate, including orders under part 8 procedures and other contractual instruments when the contractor agrees. Finally, it identifies specific permitted uses: micro-purchases, task or delivery orders when authorized by the underlying contract vehicle, and payments to contractors who accept card payment, subject to the limitation in 32.1108(b)(2). In practice, this section is about giving agencies a flexible payment and buying tool while ensuring proper controls, legal authority, and contract-specific authorization are in place.

Purchase orders.

Blanket purchase agreements (BPAs).

[Reserved]

Imprest funds and third party drafts.

SF 44, Purchase Order-Invoice-Voucher.

FAR 13.306 explains when and how agencies may use Standard Form 44 (SF 44), the Purchase Order-Invoice-Voucher, as a streamlined buying tool for very small, immediate purchases. It covers the form’s purpose as a pocket-size, multipurpose document for on-the-spot purchases of supplies and nonpersonal services, especially when the buyer is away from the purchasing office or operating at an isolated activity. The section also addresses the conditions for use: the purchase must generally be at or below the micro-purchase threshold, the items or services must be immediately available, there must be only one delivery and one payment, and the form must be more economical and efficient than other simplified acquisition methods. It further notes that the form itself contains procedural instructions, that clauses are generally not required because ordering and delivery occur essentially at the same time, and that agencies must maintain controls over the forms and account for purchases made with them. In practice, this section is about speed and practicality, but only within tight limits designed to reduce administrative burden while preserving accountability.

Forms.

FAR 13.307 explains which standard government forms, optional agency forms, and automated formats may be used in simplified acquisition and related purchasing situations. It covers forms for commercial products and commercial services, other than commercial products and services, forms that can be used for both types of buys, and special-purpose forms for pocket purchases and cash-based transactions. The section specifically addresses the SF 1449, SF 18, OF 347, OF 336, OF 348, SF 30, SF 44, and SF 1165, along with agency forms or automated formats that may substitute for or supplement them. In practice, this section helps contracting personnel choose the right form for the buying method, the type of requirement, and the amount of space needed for terms, clauses, or line items. It also reinforces that agencies may use their own forms or automated systems, but those formats should conform to the prescribed standard forms to the maximum extent practicable. For contractors, the section matters because the form used can affect how quotations are submitted, how orders are issued, how modifications are made, and how invoices or receipts are documented.