FAR 13.003 Policy
Section Federal Acquisition Regulation
Facts
- Citation
- FAR 13.003
- Type
- Section
- Last amended
- 90 FR 41872 Effective Oct 1, 2025
- Text as of
- FAC 2026-01
- Official text
- acquisition.gov
Text from acquisition.gov. Federal Register history from the Federal Register's records of the rules that amended this section.
Text
(a) Agencies shall use simplified acquisition procedures to the maximum extent practicable for all purchases of supplies or services not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold (including purchases at or below the micro-purchase threshold). This policy does not apply if an agency can meet its requirement using-
(1) Required sources of supply under part 8 (e.g., Federal Prison Industries, Committee for Purchase from People Who are Blind or Severely Disabled, and Federal Supply Schedule contracts);
(2) Existing indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contracts; or
(3) Other established contracts.
(b)
(1) Acquisitions of supplies or services that have an anticipated dollar value above the micro-purchase threshold, but at or below the simplified acquisition threshold, shall be set aside for small business concerns (see 19.000, 19.203, and subpart 19.5).
(2) The contracting officer may make an award to a small business concern under the-
(i) 8(a) Program (see subpart 19.8);
(ii) Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) Program (but see 19.1305 );
(iii) Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) Program (see subpart 19.14); or
(iv) Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Program (see subpart 19.15).
(3) The following contracting officer’s decisions for acquisitions at or below the simplified acquisition threshold are not subject to review under subpart 19.4:
(i) A decision not to make an award under the 8(a) Program.
(ii) A decision not to set aside an acquisition for HUBZone small business concerns, service-disabled veteran-owned small business concerns, or EDWOSB concerns and WOSB concerns eligible under the WOSB Program.
(4) Each written solicitation under a set-aside shall contain the appropriate provisions prescribed by part 19. If the solicitation is oral, however, information substantially identical to that in the provision shall be given to potential quoters.
(c)
(1) The contracting officer shall not use simplified acquisition procedures to acquire supplies and services if the anticipated award will exceed-
(i) The simplified acquisition threshold; or
(ii) $9 million ($15 million for acquisitions as described in 13.500(c)), including options, for acquisitions of commercial products or commercial services using subpart 13.5.
(2) Do not break down requirements aggregating more than the simplified acquisition threshold (or for commercial products and commercial services, the threshold in subpart 13.5) or the micro-purchase threshold into several purchases that are less than the applicable threshold merely to-
(i) Permit use of simplified acquisition procedures; or
(ii) Avoid any requirement that applies to purchases exceeding the micro-purchase threshold.
(d) An agency that has specific statutory authority to acquire personal services (see 37.104) may use simplified acquisition procedures to acquire those services.
(e) Agencies shall use the Governmentwide commercial purchase card and electronic purchasing techniques to the maximum extent practicable in conducting simplified acquisitions (but see 32.1108(b)(2)).
(f) Agencies shall maximize the use of electronic commerce when practicable and cost-effective (see subpart 4.5). Drawings and lengthy specifications can be provided off-line in hard copy or through other appropriate means.
(g) Authorized individuals shall make purchases in the simplified manner that is most suitable, efficient, and economical based on the circumstances of each acquisition. For acquisitions not expected to exceed-
(1) The simplified acquisition threshold when acquiring other than commercial products or commercial services, use any appropriate combination of the procedures in parts 13, 14, 15, 35, or 36, including the use of Standard Form1442, Solicitation, Offer, and Award (Construction, Alteration, or Repair), for construction contracts (see 36.701(a)); or
(2) $9 million ($15 million for acquisitions as described in 13.500(c)), for commercial products or commercial services, use any appropriate combination of the procedures in parts 12, 13, 14, and 15 (see paragraph (d) of this section).
(h) In addition to other considerations, contracting officers shall-
(1) Promote competition to the maximum extent practicable (see 13.104);
(2) Establish deadlines for the submission of responses to solicitations that afford suppliers a reasonable opportunity to respond (see 5.203);
(3) Consider all quotations or offers that are timely received. For evaluation of quotations or offers received electronically, see 13.106-2(b)(4); and
(4) Use innovative approaches, to the maximum extent practicable, in awarding contracts using simplified acquisition procedures.
Federal Register history
Show all 24
Sections cited
- FAR Part 8 Required Sources of Supplies and Services
- FAR 19.000 Scope of part
- FAR 19.203 Relationship among small business programs
- FAR Subpart 19.5 Small Business Total Set-Asides, Partial Set-Asides, and Reserves
- FAR Subpart 19.8 Contracting with the Small Business Administration (The 8(a) Program)
- FAR 19.1305 HUBZone set-aside procedures
- FAR Subpart 19.14 Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Program
- FAR Subpart 19.15 Women-Owned Small Business Program
- FAR Subpart 19.4 Cooperation with the Small Business Administration
- FAR Part 19 Small Business Programs
- FAR 13.500(c) General
- FAR Subpart 13.5 Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Products and Commercial Services
- FAR 37.104 Personal services contracts
- FAR 32.1108(b)(2) Payment by Governmentwide commercial purchase card
- FAR Subpart 4.5 Electronic Commerce in Contracting
- FAR Part 13 Simplified Acquisition Procedures
- FAR Part 14 Sealed Bidding
- FAR Part 15 Contracting by Negotiation
- FAR Part 35 Research and Development Contracting
- FAR Part 36 Construction and Architect-Engineer Contracts
- FAR 36.701(a) Standard and optional forms for use in contracting for construction or dismantling, demolition, or removal of improvements
- FAR Part 12 Acquisition of Commercial Products and Commercial Services
- FAR 13.104 Promoting competition
- FAR 5.203 Publicizing and response time
- FAR 13.106-2(b)(4) Evaluation of quotations or offers
Quick answers
What is FAR 13.003?
FAR 13.003 is a section of the Federal Acquisition Regulation, titled "Policy".
When was FAR 13.003 last changed?
The most recent final rule on record is "Federal Acquisition Regulation: Inflation Adjustment of Acquisition-Related Thresholds" (90 FR 41872), published Aug 27, 2025 and effective Oct 1, 2025.
Are changes to FAR 13.003 proposed?
No proposed rule from the last 3 years is waiting on a final rule.
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