Purchase Card Policies

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Purchase Card Program allows small businesses another way in which to target business opportunities within the VA. VA purchasing activities now use purchase cards to buy the goods and services at their facility, with over 30,000 cards being used nation-wide. Purchases made under this program are authorized under the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994 (FASA) as well as the simplified small purchase procedures found in the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Part 13. The purpose of this program is to reduce administrative costs, streamline payment procedures in the area of small purchases, and improve opportunities for small and small disadvantaged business concerns to do business with VA. In addition to using a purchase card to make payment when utilizing simplified small purchase procedures under FAR 13, vendor participation in the VA purchase card program is ideal for micro-purchases, those whose aggregate amount does not exceed $2,500 ($2,000 for construction-related purchases). Use of the purchase card option is designed primarily for items needed in the day-to-day operation of the organization, some examples being:

• Office Supplies
• ADP Equipment
• Small Office Equipment
• Office Machine Repair Services

Some examples of instances in which the purchase card may NOT be used:

• Rental or lease of motor vehicles, land or buildings
• Any type of official travel expense
• Food, entertainment or lodging in conjunction with official travel
• Gasoline or oil for vehicles used for official Government Business
• Consultant service
• Personal services
• Goods not received within the purchase card billing cycle
• Organizational or club memberships

When marketing your efforts to any of the medical centers, regional offices, etc., within the VA system, please inquire as to the availability of the purchase card option. Purchase cardholders have authority to make such purchases without further authorization from any of the agencies' contracting activities. The Government-wide commercial purchase card is used to purchase and pay for micro-purchases ($2,500 and below). To be considered for a micro-purchase requirement you may contact cardholders directly. Credit card listings for individual buying activities can be obtained by calling the credit card coordinator at each of the facilities. Credit card coordinators are listed by facility in our Forecast of Contracting Opportunities and clicking on Medical Center Business Opportunities. You then can select the area, from the map, you are interested in.