Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) (FAR Part 13.3) 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) (FAR Part 2.101).
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.
Implementation of Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP)
Government agencies do not have to have formal evaluation plans, established competitive range, discussions, or scoring when utilizing simplified acquisition procedures. SAP encourages accepting oral quotes vice written quotations, prefers 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.
Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) Key References
Website: FAR Part 13.3 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; $1,500,000 for contracts awarded and performed, or purchases made, outside the United States. The test program at FAR 13.5 raises the threshold for the use of SAP for commercial items to $7.5 million ($15 million for acquisitions as described in 13.500(c)).
Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) Buying Methods
There are three (3) buying methods prescribed in FAR Part 13 for simplified acquisition purchases:
- Government-Wide Purchase Card (Micro-Purchases)
- Purchase Orders
- Blanket Purchase Agreements
AcqNotes Tutorials
AcqLinks and References:
- Checklist: Simplified Acquisition Checklist
- Guide: Navy Simplified Acquisition Procedures Guide – April 2018
- Presentation: Simplified Acquisition Procedures Training – Mar 14
- Guide: USAID Simplified Acquisition Procedures Guide
- Website: OSD DPAP “Simplified Acquisitions”
- Website: FAR Part 2.101 (for definition and thresholds for Simplified acquisition procedures)
- Website: FAR Part 13.3 Simplified Acquisition Procedures
- Website: DFARS 213.3 Simplified Acquisition Procedures
Updated: 1/5/2023
Rank: G1.7
