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1-2. GPC Uses
The purchase card can be used in three ways, depending on the value of the transaction and the authority of the cardholder (CH). See Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 13.301. Table 1-1 summarizes the three methods and provides descriptions and examples.
Table 1-1: GPC Methods and Uses
| GPC Method | Description | Examples |
| Procurement Mechanism | To acquire and pay for goods and services by means other than the use of an existing contract. | Micro-purchases. See paragraphs a. and b. below. |
| Ordering Mechanism | To order and pay for goods and services under an existing contract only if authorized in the contract. | Orders placed against existing contracts. See paragraph c. below. |
| Payment Mechanism | To pay for goods and services when the Contractor agrees to accept contract payment(s) using the GPC card. | Contract invoice payments. Standard Form (SF) 182 training payments. See paragraphs d. and e. below. |
The GPC is the preferred method of payment for the following:
a. Micro-purchases (Card/Cardless). The GPC may be used to purchase fixed-price commercial supplies and services that do not require the CH to agree to any terms and conditions other than price and delivery. These purchases are limited to the applicable micro-purchase threshold (MPT).
b. Micro-purchases (Convenience Check). Convenience checks may be used and set up under a separate billing official (BO) account to buy commercially available, fixed-price supplies and services to fulfill mission-essential requirements. All check purchases must be within the applicable convenience check MPT. A separate account must be issued for each convenience check account.
c. Orders Against Pre-Existing Contract Vehicles. The GPC may be used to place task or delivery orders against pre-priced contract vehicles and agreements if authorized in the basic contract, basic ordering agreement, or blanket purchase agreement. (Appropriated fund CHs cannot purchase against nonappropriated fund contracts).
d. Contract Payments. The GPC may be used to make contract payments against fully funded contracts found to be advantageous to the Government when compared to other methods of payment, and the contractor accepts payment by the GPC. The contract should include the third-party payment clause identified in FAR 32.1108, Payment by Governmentwide Commercial Purchase Card; however, GPC contract payments may be made if the contractor agrees to accept the GPC as a method of payment.
e. Payment of Training Requirements on SF 182s. The GPC may be used as the method of payment for commercial training requests using the SF 182, valued at or below $25,000, in lieu of an employee reimbursement by miscellaneous payment in accordance with the procedures to directly pay the provider in DoD Financial Management Regulation (FMR) Volume 10, Chapter 12, Section 120323, and DoD Instruction (DoDI) 1400.25, Volume 410.
