ALCOAST 280/19 - AUG 2019 INCREASE IN MICRO-PURCHASE THRESHOLD FOR PURCHASE CARD TRANSACTIONS SUPPORTING TROPICAL STORM DORIAN RESPONSE AND RECOVERY

R 301517 AUG 19
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-91//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS//N07500//
ALCOAST 280/19
COMDTNOTE 7500
SUBJ: INCREASE IN MICRO-PURCHASE THRESHOLD FOR PURCHASE CARD TRANSACTIONS SUPPORTING
TROPICAL STORM DORIAN RESPONSE AND RECOVERY
A. CPO Memo Increased Thresholds for Procurements Supporting Tropical Storm Dorian Response
and Recovery, dated 29 August 2019
1. Background – An emergency was declared by the President on 27 August 2019 for the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. To facilitate response to this emergency, and in accordance with
Federal Acquisition Regulation Subpart (FAR) 13.201(g), the Chief Procurement Officer (CPO)
issued REF (A), which increased the micro-purchase threshold (MPT)(a) to $20,000 in the case
of any contract to be awarded and performed, or purchase to be made, inside the United States;
and (b) to $30,000 in the case of any contract to be awarded and performed, or purchase to be
made, outside the United States.
2. In using the increased thresholds, this authority applies only to procurements supporting
Tropical Storm Dorian response and recovery in the emergency area, as defined in and as may be
subsequently amended in a Presidential emergency/major disaster declaration.
3. For procurements made in support of Tropical Storm Dorian response, the DHS purchase card is
the preferred method to purchase and pay for goods and services below the increased MPT.
4. All requests for an increase to the MPT must have Field Organization Program Coordinator (FOPC)
and Chief of the Contracting Office (COCO) concurrence, and be submitted to the CGHQ Purchase Card
Team identifying the cardholder, account number, and amount of increase. The CGHQ Purchase Card
Team will update the bank's system to reflect the increased single purchase limit. The system
should also be updated to reflect subsequent monthly purchase limit increases.
5. All purchases using the increased single purchase limit must have a clear and direct
relationship to Tropical Storm Dorian response or recovery. All purchase card files must clearly
document the connection to Tropical Storm Dorian response/recovery in the emergency area when
using these increased thresholds and all documentation (i.e. receipts, invoices, etc.) must be
maintained to support this effort. Additionally, cardholders deployed in response to the relief
effort should make every attempt to ensure prior approval from the Approving Official (AO)
(as assigned in PCA) is obtained. If the assigned AO cannot be reached, AOs that are
local/deployed to the incident can approve purchases provided that the AOs have been approved by
the FOPC and CGHQ. This is accomplished by the FOPC submitting a list of new AOs to the CGHQ
Purchase Card Program prior to any approvals for purchase card transactions.
6. Cardholders and AOs must perform timely verification and certification of statements in the
PCA system. The CGHQ Purchase Card Team is available to assist with hardcopy certification if
there are issues with accessing PCA.
7. Cardholders are reminded that if they expect to be deployed, their FOPC must request a Courier
Certificate from the CGHQ Purchase Card Team. For guidance on how to request a Courier
Certificate, please refer to PCN 4-19-2013, Courier Certificate Authorization.
8. The increased MPT will remain in effect until 27 November 2019, unless otherwise rescinded
or modified.
9. Please direct questions regarding this ALCOAST to Ms. Helen Dawson, COMDT (CG-9131),
(202) 475-3271, Helen.F.Dawson@uscg.mil.
10. Mr. Michael W. Derrios, Head of Contracting Activity, sends.
11. Internet release is authorized.