FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 13: Simplified Acquisition Procedures › Subpart 13.2
FAR 13.201 General.
The codified text (eCFR, as of 2026-10-02). Under the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul ↗, agencies follow class deviations with new text for many parts while the formal rules go through the Federal Register: check the solicitation and your contract's clauses, which rule.
In plain English
FAR 13.201 describes general rules for micro-purchases, which are purchases at or below the micro-purchase threshold. It encourages agencies to delegate micro-purchase authority, makes the Governmentwide commercial purchase card the preferred payment method, and allows purchases using any method in subpart 13.3 if the purchaser is authorized and trained. It also sets special thresholds for certain contingency or emergency situations and lists various prohibitions that apply to micro-purchases.
Applies to: Agencies and contractors involved in micro-purchases
What it requires
- Ensure purchasers are authorized and trained to use the methods described in subpart 13.3.
- Do not purchase hardware, software, or services developed or provided by Kaspersky Lab for Government use on or after October 1, 2018.
- Do not procure or obtain equipment, systems, or services using covered telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or essential component, unless an exception or waiver applies.
- Do not procure or obtain covered articles or products/services from prohibited sources under an applicable FASCSA order.
Key terms: micro-purchase · micro-purchase threshold · Governmentwide commercial purchase card · contingency operation · covered telecommunications equipment or services
Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.
The text
(a) Agency heads are encouraged to delegate micro-purchase authority (see 1.603-3).
(b) The Governmentwide commercial purchase card shall be the preferred method to purchase and to pay for micro-purchases (see 2.101).
(c) Purchases at or below the micro-purchase threshold may be conducted using any of the methods described in subpart 13.3, provided the purchaser is authorized and trained, pursuant to agency procedures, to use those methods.
(d) Micro-purchases do not require provisions or clauses, except as provided at 13.202 and 32.1110. This paragraph takes precedence over any other FAR requirement to the contrary, but does not prohibit the use of any clause.
(e) The requirements in part 8 apply to purchases at or below the micro-purchase threshold.
(f) The procurement requirements in subpart 23.1 apply to purchases at or below the micro-purchase threshold.
(g)(1) For acquisitions of supplies or services that, as determined by the head of the agency, are to be used to support a contingency operation; to facilitate defense against or recovery from cyber, nuclear, biological, chemical, or radiological attack; to support a request from the Secretary of State or the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development to facilitate provision of international disaster assistance pursuant to 22 U.S.C. 2292 et seq.; or to support response to an emergency or major disaster (42 U.S.C. 5122), the micro-purchase threshold is—
(i) $25,000 in the case of any contract to be awarded and performed, or purchase to be made, inside the United States; and
(ii) $40,000 in the case of any contract to be awarded and performed, or purchase to be made, outside the United States.
(2) Purchases using this authority must have a clear and direct relationship to the support of a contingency operation; or the defense against or recovery from cyber, nuclear, biological, chemical, or radiological attack; international disaster assistance; or an emergency or major disaster.
(h) When using the Governmentwide commercial purchase card as a method of payment, purchases at or below the micro-purchase threshold are exempt from verification in the System for Award Management as to whether the contractor has a delinquent debt subject to collection under the Treasury Offset Program (TOP).
(i) Do not purchase any hardware, software, or services developed or provided by Kaspersky Lab that the Government will use on or after October 1, 2018. (See 4.2002.)
(j)(1) On or after August 13, 2019, do not procure or obtain, or extend or renew a contract to procure or obtain, any equipment, system, or service that uses covered telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical technology as part of any system, unless an exception applies or a waiver is granted. (See subpart 4.21.)
(2) On or after August 13, 2020, agencies are prohibited from entering into a contract, or extending or renewing a contract, with an entity that uses any equipment, system, or service that uses covered telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical technology as part of any system, unless an exception applies or a waiver is granted (see subpart 4.21). This prohibition applies to the use of covered telecommunications equipment or services, regardless of whether that use is in performance of work under a Federal contract.
(k) The prohibition in subpart 4.22 on use of a covered application (“TikTok”) applies to purchases at or below the micro-purchase threshold where the performance of the contract may require the presence or use of a covered application, (e.g., where social media advertising services might be part of the procurement), unless an exception is granted in accordance with Office of Management and Budget Memorandum M-23-13 (see 4.2202).
(l) Do not procure or obtain, or extend or renew a contract to procure or obtain, any covered article, or any products or services produced or provided by a source, including contractor use of covered articles or sources, if prohibited from doing so by an applicable Federal Acquisition Supply Chain Security Act (FASCSA) order issued by the Director of National Intelligence, Secretary of Defense, or Secretary of Homeland Security (see 4.2303).
(m) The prohibitions on unmanned aircraft systems (e.g., drones) in 40.202 apply to purchases at or below the micro-purchase threshold.
Sections it refers to
- 1.603-3 Appointment.
- 2.101 Definitions.
- 13.202 Unenforceability of unauthorized obligations in micro-purchases.
- 32.1110 Solicitation provision and contract clauses.
- 4.2002 Prohibition.
- 4.2202 Prohibition.
- 4.2303 FASCSA orders.
- 40.202 Prohibition on the procurement and operation of unmanned aircraft systems manufactured or assembled by American Security Drone Act-covered foreign entities.
← 13.106-3 Award and documentation. · 13.202 Unenforceability of unauthorized obligations in micro-purchases. →
Rule changes for FAR Part 13
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Revolutionary FAR Overhaul Parts 8, 12, 13, 15, 38, 44, and 51 ↗ · proposed 2026-09-18 · comments due 2026-10-19
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Prohibition on Certain Semiconductor Products and Services ↗ · proposed 2026-02-17 · comments due 2026-04-20
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Inflation Adjustment of Acquisition-Related Thresholds ↗ · final rule 2025-08-27 · effective 2025-10-01
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Preventing Organizational Conflicts of Interest in Federal Acquisition ↗ · proposed 2025-01-15 · comments due 2025-03-17
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Prohibition on Unmanned Aircraft Systems From Covered Foreign Entities ↗ · final rule 2024-12-30
- Federal Acquisition Regulation; Technical Amendments ↗ · final rule 2024-12-16 · effective 2025-01-03
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Inflation Adjustment of Acquisition-Related Thresholds ↗ · proposed 2024-11-29 · comments due 2025-01-28
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Prohibition on Unmanned Aircraft Systems From Covered Foreign Entities ↗ · final rule 2024-11-12 · effective 2024-11-12
Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.