ALCOAST 095/20 - MAR 2020 INCREASE IN MICRO-PURCHASE THRESHOLD FOR PURCHASE CARD TRANSACTIONS SUPPORTING THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 (COVID-19) RESPONSE

R 201155 MAR 20
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-91//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N07500//
ALCOAST 095/20
COMDTNOTE 7500
SUBJ: INCREASE IN MICRO-PURCHASE THRESHOLD FOR PURCHASE CARD TRANSACTIONS SUPPORTING THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 (COVID-19) RESPONSE
A. CPO Memo Increased Thresholds for Procurements Supporting the Novel Coronavirus Disease
2019 (COVID-19) Response, dated 15 March 2020. COVID-19 has also been declared a pandemic by
the World Health Organization on 11 March 2020 and public health emergency by the Secretary
of Health and Human Services on January 31, 2020.
1. Background – An emergency was declared by the President on 13 March 2020 for the United
States. To facilitate response to this emergency, and in accordance with Federal Acquisition
Regulation (FAR) Subpart 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. Note that the portion of the FAR 2.101 MPT definition relating to the
thresholds for the Construction Wage Rate Requirements statute (previously known as the
Davis-Bacon Act, $2,000) and the Service Contract Labor Standards statute (previously known
as the Service Contract Act, $2,500) do not change in response to COVID-19.
2. In using the increased thresholds, this authority applies only to procurements supporting
the COVID-19 outbreak, as defined in and as may be subsequently amended in a Presidential
emergency declaration.
3. For procurements made in support of the COVID-19 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 Organizational 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 must clearly document the direct connection to COVID-19 response when using
these increased thresholds for single purchases and all documentation (i.e. receipts,
invoices, etc.) must be maintained to support this effort.
6. DHS has issued a new FPDS National Interest Action (NIA) value for COVID-19 and it has been
added to FPDS. Please use this NIA Code to track purchases made in support of COVID-19
response and recovery efforts within the E-Contingency Tracker
https://cg.portal.uscg.mil/communities/SILCCOCOBSS/SitePages/DISASTERS.aspx.
The new NIA value are as follows:
    (1) NIA Code: P20C
    (2) NIA Description: COVID-19
    (3) Start Date: 03/13/2020
    (4) End Date: 07/01/2020
7. As a reminder, CHs should make every effort to obtain three (3) quotes prior to making
purchases. CHs should obtain verification from vendors that commodities are readily available
prior to making the purchase and anticipate increased costs as a result of “price gouging.”
It is imperative that CHs appropriately document why paying more is justified and the cost is
considered fair and reasonable.
8. Cardholders and Approving Officials must perform timely verification and
certification of statements in the Purchase Card Application (PCA) system. The CGHQ Purchase
Card Team is available to assist with hardcopy certification if there are issues with
accessing PCA.
9. DHS has created an emergency Merchant Category Code Group (MCCG) which can be added to the
cardholder's account. This MCCG is titled DHSPUREMG. This MCCG will be available only to
those individuals who are supporting the emergency declaration efforts. If the CH requires
DHSPUREMG, please contact the FOPC. If the FOPC is unavailable, contact the CGHQ Purchase
Card Team at Purchase.Card@uscg.mil, or the team members directly using the following:
    a. Emmanuel Agyeman-Prempeh, Phone: (202) 475-3192 Email: Emmanuel.K.Agyeman-Prempeh@uscg.mil
    b. Jennifer Fisher, Phone: (202) 475-3721 Email: Jennifer.A.Fisher@uscg.mil
    c. LaShawn Gibson, Phone: (202) 475-3265 Email: Lashawn.L.Gibson@uscg.mil
    d. Joan Johnson, Phone: (202) 475-5787 Email: Joan.J.Johnson@uscg.mil
    e. George Morton, Phone: (202) 475-3324 Email: George.P.Vance@uscg.mil
    f. Jackie Rush, Phone: (202) 475-3783 Email: Jacquelyn.B.Rush@uscg.mil
    g. Sharon Anderson, Phone: (202) 475-3762 Email Sharon.Y.Anderson@uscg.mil
    h. Susan Sawyer: (202) 475-3765 Email: Susan.G.Sawyer@uscg.mil
    i. Gwen Strogen Boozer: (202) 475- 3084 Email: Gwendolyn.Strogen-Boozer@uscg.mil
10. Under this specific emergency declaration, CHs may utilize the purchase card to pay for
USCG personnel(s) currently aboard CG vessels to stay in a hotel if the individual(s)
requires quarantine as a result of potential COVID-19 exposure. CHs will need written
justification for the hotel stay from the attending physician or CG medical staff aboard the
vessel, even if individuals self-identify, explaining quarantining the individual(s) at a
Port City hotel was necessary due to potential COVID-19 exposure; the length of the
quarantine (# of days); and quarantine location (Port City). Receipts are required.
11. The threshold increases will remain in effect until July 1, 2020 unless otherwise
amended. Please direct questions regarding this ALCOAST to Ms. Helen Dawson, COMDT (CG-9131),
(202) 475-3271, Helen.F.Dawson@uscg.mil.
12. For emergency assistance AFTERHOURS/WEEKENDS, please call (202) 329-0932.
13. Mr. Michael W. Derrios, Head of Contracting Activity, sends.
14. Internet release is authorized.