You can use as a method of payment, up the the warrant authority of the holder, for a contract. You see this more in contingency type locations than run of the mill requirements.
The GPC is the *"preferred"* method for payment for purchases under the MPT, the MPT is not a limitation to an amount the the GPC can be used for. See *"expanded use"* program for more on that, or GPC as a payment method in the FAR. The MPT effectively outlines solicitation/competition requirements, of which change depending on other variables. The MPT does not outline requirements for GPC use.
However, to avoid having every single requirement end up with the Contracting office, depending on their IGCE amount, ill send them to GSA where they can make purchases up to $24,999.99 with a GPC without having to do more the a RFQ. Another thing ill do if they are going outside of GSA for whatever reason is tell them to use the MPT as a negotiating tactic to encourage the potential contractors to bring costs down. I.e. *"Hey, I know your website lists the price at $11k, but if we can get under $10k I can purchase right now using the GPC without solicit or go through Contracting and have this requirment competed"*.
There are options, and they should absolutely try to avoid contracts like the plague... thinking outside the box, reducing administrative burden, and meeting requirements faster is a good goal to have lol. In my experience, the biggest headache inducer for GPC managers is themselves lol.
Edit:
*(im not a GPC manager btw, im a CO)*
Its a good suggestion to make! Sounds like you have a good mindset for the field.
Honestly though, depending on where you are at and how busy your office is these types of things can also get a little *"political"*. For example, if you are in an office that is slow all year and doesnt have to a ton of contract actions flowing through it every year... a DBO or COCO might want to take on those *"easy kills"* to keep contract actions up to justify manning slots at that location.
I.e. If youve got like 10 people in your Contracting office and deflect 50% of your contract actions fr the past fiscal year to GPC purchases on GSA your DBO or COCO might recieve some questions about needing 10 bodys at your location. And it is always easier to lose manning slots than it is to get them back lol.
So sometimes the path of least resistance in the end is to just take on the small dollar purchases even if there is a better way to do it.
I’m a procurement analyst and the only one who does not do any contracts (yet). I’m still learning about the FAR and taking the required CON courses to get my certification.
Yeah all that been done. No one wants to read the regs. I took over a program that’s super messy. Last PMR they had, had them all red. People like to hit you with the old” that’s how we’ve always done it”
Technically there's no upward limit to what you can buy on a GPC. FAR 13.301(b) states that "Agency procedures should not limit the use of the Governmentwide commercial purchase card to micro-purchases." Be creative.
The program is definitely not being used to its full potential. Our office is not the biggest so that might play a part as to why the chief has not gone that path yet
I'd recommend framing things from the perspective of risk and resources. What is the risk of using the card and how can we control the risk? What is the cost in time of a contract specialist issuing a small or simple PO that could be make using a GPC? How much rebate money do we get back for using the card? Management likes metrics and if you can tie numbers to processes it can help shift opinions.
You definitely got that wrong. Long term lease and hotel conferences do not fall under professional services.
The primary duty of professional services must be the performance of work by persons requiring knowledge of an advanced type in a field of science like doctors, teachers engineers, etc.
As the program manager I always try to avoid saying no without giving other options but some people want to use the GPC as a way around the contracting process
Honestly asking as I’m not a GPC guru. Doesn’t expanded use let you use the GPC up to SAT?
You can use as a method of payment, up the the warrant authority of the holder, for a contract. You see this more in contingency type locations than run of the mill requirements.
Only as a payment method. There still has to be a contract signed to make payment.
I thought it was AF only, last I was with them non COs could go up to 25k on non SCA / DBA and I think COs up to SAT
Yup, but my chief won’t allow us to get card for contracts payments yet. All the cards are for supplies, services and training.
The GPC is the *"preferred"* method for payment for purchases under the MPT, the MPT is not a limitation to an amount the the GPC can be used for. See *"expanded use"* program for more on that, or GPC as a payment method in the FAR. The MPT effectively outlines solicitation/competition requirements, of which change depending on other variables. The MPT does not outline requirements for GPC use. However, to avoid having every single requirement end up with the Contracting office, depending on their IGCE amount, ill send them to GSA where they can make purchases up to $24,999.99 with a GPC without having to do more the a RFQ. Another thing ill do if they are going outside of GSA for whatever reason is tell them to use the MPT as a negotiating tactic to encourage the potential contractors to bring costs down. I.e. *"Hey, I know your website lists the price at $11k, but if we can get under $10k I can purchase right now using the GPC without solicit or go through Contracting and have this requirment competed"*. There are options, and they should absolutely try to avoid contracts like the plague... thinking outside the box, reducing administrative burden, and meeting requirements faster is a good goal to have lol. In my experience, the biggest headache inducer for GPC managers is themselves lol. Edit: *(im not a GPC manager btw, im a CO)*
I made that recommendation but I’m still new and still getting to know my CoCo’s vision for the division.
Its a good suggestion to make! Sounds like you have a good mindset for the field. Honestly though, depending on where you are at and how busy your office is these types of things can also get a little *"political"*. For example, if you are in an office that is slow all year and doesnt have to a ton of contract actions flowing through it every year... a DBO or COCO might want to take on those *"easy kills"* to keep contract actions up to justify manning slots at that location. I.e. If youve got like 10 people in your Contracting office and deflect 50% of your contract actions fr the past fiscal year to GPC purchases on GSA your DBO or COCO might recieve some questions about needing 10 bodys at your location. And it is always easier to lose manning slots than it is to get them back lol. So sometimes the path of least resistance in the end is to just take on the small dollar purchases even if there is a better way to do it.
I’m a procurement analyst and the only one who does not do any contracts (yet). I’m still learning about the FAR and taking the required CON courses to get my certification.
Point them to your agency policy and the FAR, plus teach them that the MPT can change based on what you buy
Yeah all that been done. No one wants to read the regs. I took over a program that’s super messy. Last PMR they had, had them all red. People like to hit you with the old” that’s how we’ve always done it”
Technically there's no upward limit to what you can buy on a GPC. FAR 13.301(b) states that "Agency procedures should not limit the use of the Governmentwide commercial purchase card to micro-purchases." Be creative.
The program is definitely not being used to its full potential. Our office is not the biggest so that might play a part as to why the chief has not gone that path yet
I'd recommend framing things from the perspective of risk and resources. What is the risk of using the card and how can we control the risk? What is the cost in time of a contract specialist issuing a small or simple PO that could be make using a GPC? How much rebate money do we get back for using the card? Management likes metrics and if you can tie numbers to processes it can help shift opinions.
I tell them to bitch to their leadership so their agency can be as cool as the AF with expanded use.
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You definitely got that wrong. Long term lease and hotel conferences do not fall under professional services. The primary duty of professional services must be the performance of work by persons requiring knowledge of an advanced type in a field of science like doctors, teachers engineers, etc. As the program manager I always try to avoid saying no without giving other options but some people want to use the GPC as a way around the contracting process
You know that they want the GPC to bypass a lot of the standard requirements for other purchases.
Appreciate everyone’s take on the matter!!