a. DPCAP adopted use of the group term Emergency-Type Operations (ETOs) in contingency contracting and GPC policy. The ETOs currently included in 41 USC 1903 are the following:

1) Contingency Operations as defined in FAR 2.101;

2) Operations to facilitate the defense against or recovery from cyber, nuclear, biological, chemical, or radiological attack against the United States as addressed in FAR 18.001;

3) Operations in support of a request from the Secretary of State or the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development to facilitate the provision of international disaster assistance as addressed in FAR 18.001; and

4) Operations to support response to an emergency or major disaster as defined in Section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 USC 5121, implemented in FAR Subpart 26.2).

The term ETO also includes humanitarian or peacekeeping operations as defined in FAR 2.101. Currently, when supporting humanitarian or peacekeeping operations, the MPT does not increase, regardless of whether the humanitarian or peacekeeping operation is taking place inside or outside the United States; and the SAT can increase to $500,000 upon determination by the HCA that the respective supplies or services directly support the humanitarian or peacekeeping operation.

b. FAR 18.2 addresses Emergency Acquisition Flexibilities (EAFs). It is critical to verify whether increased EAFs have been authorized for the particular ETO being supported. If so, each HCA has the authority to authorize use of EAFs. The primary EAF related to use of the GPC is the increased threshold defined in paragraph (3) of the “Micro-Purchase Threshold” definition at FAR 2.101. EAFs will be used only for the duration of the ETO by those who have been authorized to support the effort. Upon conclusion of the ETO authority, use of EAFs will cease and purchasing limits will return to previous levels. EAFs must be used solely for transactions that have a clear and direct relationship with the ETO and that appropriate internal controls are established and maintained to support and track use of the increased flexibilities.