FAR and DFARS › DFARS Part 213: Simplified Acquisition Procedures › Subpart 213.3
DFARS 213.301 Governmentwide commercial purchase card.
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 DFARS section tells contracting personnel to follow PGI 213.301 when authorizing, establishing, and operating a Governmentwide commercial purchase card program. It also sets conditions under which certain appointed individuals or contracting officers may use the card for purchases above the micro-purchase threshold, and restricts card use as a payment method when a foreign procurement tax clause applies. It matters to contractors because it affects how and when the government may pay or buy using the purchase card.
Applies to: DoD contracting personnel and individuals authorized to use the Governmentwide commercial purchase card
What it requires
- Follow the procedures at PGI 213.301 for authorizing, establishing, and operating a Governmentwide commercial purchase card program.
- Do not authorize the Governmentwide commercial purchase card as a method of payment during a contract period of performance if the contract includes FAR 52.229-12, unless the contract also includes DFARS 252.229-7014.
- When the card is used as a method of payment for contracts or orders, follow the procedures at DFARS 232.7002(a)(5) and PGI 242.302(a)(13)(B)(3).
Key terms: Governmentwide commercial purchase card · micro-purchase threshold · simplified acquisition threshold · contingency operation · humanitarian or peacekeeping operation
Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.
The text
Follow the procedures at PGI 213.301 for authorizing, establishing, and operating a Governmentwide commercial purchase card program.
(1) “United States,” as used in this section, means the 50 States and the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Wake Island, Johnston Island, Canton Island, the outer Continental Shelf, and any other place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States (but not including leased bases).
(2) An individual appointed in accordance with 201.603-3(a) also may use the Governmentwide commercial purchase card to make a purchase that exceeds the micro-purchase threshold but does not exceed $25,000, if—
(i) The purchase—
(A) Is made outside the United States for use outside the United States; and
(B) Is for a commercial product or commercial service; but
(C) Is not for work to be performed by employees recruited within the United States;
(D) Is not for supplies or services originating from, or transported from or through, sources identified in FAR Subpart 25.7;
(E) Is not for ball or roller bearings as end items;
(F) Does not require access to classified or Privacy Act information; and
(G) Does not require transportation of supplies by sea; and
(ii) The individual making the purchase—
(A) Is authorized and trained in accordance with agency procedures;
(B) Complies with the requirements of FAR 8.002 in making the purchase; and
(C) Seeks maximum practicable competition for the purchase in accordance with FAR 13.104(b).
(3) A contracting officer supporting a contingency operation as defined in 10 U.S.C. 101(a)(13) or a humanitarian or peacekeeping operation as defined in 10 U.S.C. 3015(2) also may use the Governmentwide commercial purchase card to make a purchase that exceeds the micro-purchase threshold but does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold, if—
(i) The supplies or services being purchased are immediately available;
(ii) One delivery and one payment will be made; and
(iii) The requirements of paragraphs (2)(i) and (ii) of this section are met.
(4) The contracting officer shall not authorize the Governmentwide commercial purchase card as a method of payment during any contract period of performance if the contract includes the clause at FAR 52.229-12, Tax on Certain Foreign Procurements, unless the contract also includes the clause at 252.229-7014, Full Exemption from Two-Percent Excise Tax on Certain Foreign Procurements, indicating that the contractor is fully exempt from the tax.
(5) Guidance on DoD purchase, travel, and fuel card programs is available in the “Department of Defense Government Charge Card Guidebook for Establishing and Managing Purchase, Travel, and Fuel Card Programs” at https://www.acq.osd.mil/asda/dpc/ce/pc/docs-guides.html. Additional guidance on the fuel card programs is available at https://www.dla.mil/Energy/Offers/Products/GovernmentFuel/.
(6) When the Governmentwide commercial purchase card is used as a method of payment for contracts or orders, follow the procedures at 232.7002(a)(5) and PGI 242.302(a)(13)(B)(3).
Sections it refers to
- 201.603-3 Appointment.
- 8.002 Priorities for use of mandatory Government sources.
- 13.104 Promoting competition.
- 52.229-12 Tax on Certain Foreign Procurements.
- 252.229-7014 Full Exemption from Two-Percent Excise Tax on Certain Foreign Procurements.
- 232.7002 Policy.
- 242.302 Contract administration functions.
← 213.270 Use of the Governmentwide commercial purchase card. · 213.302 Purchase orders. →
Rule changes for DFARS Part 213
- Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Disclosure of Information Regarding Foreign Obligations (DFARS Case 2018-D064) ↗ · proposed 2024-11-15 · comments due 2025-01-14
- Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Replacement of Fluorinated Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (DFARS Case 2020-D011) ↗ · final rule 2024-03-26 · effective 2024-03-26
- Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement; Technical Amendments ↗ · final rule 2024-02-15 · effective 2024-02-15
- Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: DFARS Buy American Act Requirements (DFARS Case 2022-D019) ↗ · final rule 2024-02-15 · effective 2024-02-15
Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.