The Government-wide Purchase Card is used to purchase supplies and services in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). Purchase Charge Card use as the procurement and payment tool for micro-purchases is defined in FAR 13.2. Micro-purchase means an acquisition of supplies or services in which the aggregate amount does not exceed $3,000, except in the case of construction where the limit is $2,000.

The Purchase Charge Card may be used as an ordering and payment mechanism, not a contracting mechanism, for purchases above the micro-purchase threshold. When used as an ordering and payment mechanism, contractors may bill against the Purchase Charge Card. When the order is delivered, the contractor bills the Purchase Charge Card account instead of issuing an invoice directly to the agency/organization.

Use of the purchase card benefits the Department of Education in many ways. The Department saves time, money and resources. The purchase card program provides the Department with financial and cash management control over low dollar value, high volume procurements.

Please note that the Department of Education purchases office supplies through the Federal Strategic Sourcing Initiative for Office Supplies Second Generation (FSSI OS2) contract via GSA. The FSSI OS2 contact allows Departments and agencies, across the Federal government, to aggregate requirements, streamline processes and leverage its buying power to drive down the cost of commonly purchased commodities. This contract is mandatory for purchase cardholders in the acquisition of office supplies.

The table below contains the phone numbers of U.S. Department of Education staff who have been issued a Government Purchase Card as of November 25, 2008.

[Contracts Information]

Top