Micro-Purchase (Micro-Purchase)
A federal purchase below the micro-purchase threshold ($10,000 for most goods/services) that can be made without competition, typically using a government purchase card.
Definition
Federal micro-purchases are governed by FAR Part 13. The threshold is currently $10,000 for most purchases ($2,500 for services subject to the Service Contract Act, $2,000 for construction subject to Davis-Bacon). Below the threshold, agencies can purchase from a single source without competition or formal documentation, often using a government purchase card (GPC).
When it applies
Micro-purchases account for a huge volume of federal transactions but small individual dollar amounts. For vendors, the path to micro-purchase business is being on agency vendor lists, accepting government purchase cards, and being responsive on quick-turn quotes. SAM.gov registration is not strictly required for vendors who only sell at micro-purchase levels.