Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP)

Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) (FAR Part 13) are designed for the purchase of relatively simple supply or service requirements. It is a contracting method that seeks to reduce the amount of work the government must undertake to evaluate an offer. SAP is supposed to be used to the maximum extent practicable for all purchases of supplies or services not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT).

Definition: Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) are government procurement procedures that aim to reduce the administrative burden and time of awarding procurements below a certain dollar threshold.

Government agencies do not have to have formal evaluation plans, established competitive range, have discussions, or scoring when utilizing simplified acquisition procedures. SAP encourages accepting oral quotes vice written quotations prefer comparing quoted prices vice conducting negotiations and provide streamlined clauses to support the award document. The contracting officer is allowed to choose the contract winner.

Purpose of Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP)

The purpose of SAP is to allow contracting officers with additional procedural discretion and flexibility, so that commercial item acquisitions in this dollar range may be solicited, offered, evaluated, and awarded in a simplified manner that maximizes efficiency and economy and minimizes burden and administrative costs for both the Government and industry:

Reduce administrative costs;
Improve opportunities for small, small disadvantaged, women-owned, and service-disabled veteran-owned small business concerns to obtain a fair proportion of government contracts;
Promote efficiency and economy in contracting; and
Avoid unnecessary burdens for agencies and contractors.

Website: FAR Part 13 Simplified Acquisition Procedures

Website: DFARS 213.3 Simplified Acquisition Procedures

Checklist: Simplified Acquisition Checklist

Simplified Acquisition Thresholds (SAT)

The Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT) (FAR 2.101) is $250,000. The SAT can vary depending on the particular acquisition situation. For acquisitions of supplies or services for supporting a contingency operation or facilitating defense against or recovery from nuclear, biological, chemical, or radiological attack, the SAT is (i) $800,000 for contracts awarded and performed, or purchases made, inside the United States; $500,000 for contracts awarded and performed, or purchases made, outside the United States; and (ii) $1.5 million for contracts awarded and performed, or purchases made, outside the United States. The test program at FAR 13.5 raises the threshold for use of SAP for commercial items to $7.5 million, ($15 million for acquisitions as described in 13.500(c)).