What Is the Micro-Purchase Threshold?
The micro-purchase threshold is $15,000. Agencies can make most buys at or below it without competing quotes, often with a government purchase card.
Micro-purchase threshold in plain English
The threshold rose from $10,000 to $15,000 on October 1, 2025. It's lower for construction covered by Davis-Bacon ($2,000) and for services covered by the Service Contract Act ($2,500).
A buyer can make a micro-purchase without competing quotes if the price is reasonable. Purchases made and paid with a government purchase card don't require SAM.gov registration.
Micro-purchases are rarely posted on SAM.gov. Small businesses win them by being easy to find and easy to buy from, for example by accepting cards and keeping their Small Business Search profile complete.
Related terms
- Simplified acquisition threshold (SAT): The simplified acquisition threshold (SAT) is $350,000. Federal purchases at or below it can use simpler, faster buying procedures.
- RFQ (request for quotations): A request for quotations (RFQ) is a solicitation asking businesses for price quotes. It's common on smaller and simpler federal purchases.
- Rule of two: The rule of two requires a set-aside for small businesses when at least two responsible small businesses are expected to offer at fair market prices.
Put it to work
Looking for another term? Browse the full glossary or the government contracting glossary guide.