[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 48, Volume 1]
[Revised as of October 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 48CFR13.303-5]

[Page 209-210]
 
            TITLE 48--FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATIONS SYSTEM
 
                CHAPTER 1--FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION
 
PART 13_SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION PROCEDURES--Table of Contents
 
               Subpart 13.3_Simplified Acquisition Methods
 
Sec.  13.303-5  Purchases under BPAs.

    (a) Use a BPA only for purchases that are otherwise authorized by 
law or regulation.
    (b) Individual purchases shall not exceed the simplified acquisition 
threshold. However, agency regulations may establish a higher threshold 
consistent with the following:
    (1) The simplified acquisition threshold and the $5,000,000 
limitation for individual purchases do not apply to BPAs established in 
accordance with 13.303-2(c)(3).
    (2) The limitation for individual purchases for commercial item 
acquisitions conducted under subpart 13.5 is $5,000,000.
    (c) The existence of a BPA does not justify purchasing from only one 
source or avoiding small business set-asides. The requirements of 
13.003(b) and subpart 19.5 also apply to each order.
    (d) If, for a particular purchase greater than the micro-purchase 
threshold, there is an insufficient number of BPAs to ensure maximum 
practicable competition, the contracting officer shall--
    (1) Solicit quotations from other sources (see 13.105) and make the 
purchase as appropriate; and
    (2) Establish additional BPAs to facilitate future purchases if--
    (i) Recurring requirements for the same or similar supplies or 
services seem likely;
    (ii) Qualified sources are willing to accept BPAs; and
    (iii) It is otherwise practical to do so.
    (e) Limit documentation of purchases to essential information and 
forms as follows:
    (1) Purchases generally should be made electronically, or orally 
when it is not considered economical or practical to use electronic 
methods.
    (2) A paper purchase document may be issued if necessary to ensure 
that the supplier and the purchaser agree concerning the transaction.
    (3) Unless a paper document is issued, record essential elements 
(e.g., date, supplier, supplies or services, price, delivery date) on 
the purchase requisition, in an informal memorandum, or on a form 
developed locally for the purpose.
    (4) Cite the pertinent purchase requisitions and the accounting and 
appropriation data.
    (5) When delivery is made or the services are performed, the 
supplier's sales document, delivery document, or invoice may (if it 
reflects the essential

[[Page 210]]

elements) be used for the purpose of recording receipt and acceptance of 
the supplies or services. However, if the purchase is assigned to 
another activity for administration, the authorized Government 
representative shall document receipt and acceptance of supplies or 
services by signing and dating the agency specified form after 
verification and after notation of any exceptions.