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FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 13: Simplified Acquisition Procedures › Subpart 13.2

FAR 13.203 Purchase guidelines.

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

This section gives guidelines for micro-purchases, which are small purchases below a certain threshold. It says micro-purchases should be spread fairly among qualified suppliers when practical, and they can be awarded without competitive quotes if the price is considered reasonable. It also explains when you need to verify price reasonableness and what documentation is needed if you didn't pick the lowest quote.

Applies to: Micro-purchases and the contracting officer or appointed individual

What it requires

  • Distribute micro-purchases equitably among qualified suppliers to the extent practicable
  • Verify price reasonableness only if you suspect the price may not be reasonable or if no comparable pricing information is readily available
  • If competitive quotations were solicited and award was made to other than the low quoter, document the solicited concerns and explain the award decision

Key terms: micro-purchases · contracting officer · price reasonableness · competitive quotations · low quoter

Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.

The text

(a) Solicitation, evaluation of quotations, and award. (1) To the extent practicable, micro-purchases shall be distributed equitably among qualified suppliers.

(2) Micro-purchases may be awarded without soliciting competitive quotations if the contracting officer or individual appointed in accordance with 1.603-3(b) considers the price to be reasonable.

(3) The administrative cost of verifying the reasonableness of the price for purchases may more than offset potential savings from detecting instances of overpricing. Therefore, action to verify price reasonableness need only be taken if—

(i) The contracting officer or individual appointed in accordance with 1.603-3(b) suspects or has information to indicate that the price may not be reasonable (e.g., comparison to the previous price paid or personal knowledge of the supply or service); or

(ii) Purchasing a supply or service for which no comparable pricing information is readily available (e.g., a supply or service that is not the same as, or is not similar to, other supplies or services that have recently been purchased on a competitive basis).

(b) Documentation. If competitive quotations were solicited and award was made to other than the low quoter, documentation to support the purchase may be limited to identification of the solicited concerns and an explanation for the award decision.

Sections it refers to

← 13.202 Unenforceability of unauthorized obligations in micro-purchases. · 13.301 Governmentwide commercial purchase card. →

Rule changes for FAR Part 13

Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.

FAR 13.203 Purchase guidelines · SpendQuery