2-43.3 Use

Simplified purchasing is generally used to purchase commercially-available goods and services valued at $250,000 or less. Under certain circumstances, contracting officers may use simplified purchasing for purchases valued at up to $1 million subject to the relevant Portfolio manager’s review and approval of the specific purchase (Portfolio managers may delegate this approval authority to their reporting CMC managers). Approval must be received prior to soliciting proposals. This approval does not preclude the need for the reviews and approvals (i.e., award recommendation, etc.) discussed in Section 2-41, Obtain Selected Reviews and Approvals. Simplified purchasing may not be used for purchases valued at more than $1 million.

Purchase/SCM teams should use their business judgment in deciding whether or not simplified purchasing is the most effective competitive business practice based on (1) the nature and complexity of the requirement, (2) market conditions, and (3) whether simplified purchasing will result in the Postal Service obtaining best value. While some purchases valued at $250,000 or less may be too complex for simplified purchasing to be effective, some purchases valued at more than $250,000 may be straightforward enough that simplified purchasing would be the most effective business process. Furthermore, purchase/SCM teams should conduct market research to determine that the good or service sought is available in the marketplace before making the decision to use simplified purchasing procedures. In any case, the decision to use simplified purchasing is made during purchase planning and is ultimately based on obtaining the best value for the Postal Service - not solely on the estimated dollar value of the purchase.