Short answer: a micro-purchase is any federal purchase at or under $15,000 (it was $10,000 until October 1, 2025). Government buyers can make these with a purchase card, usually without collecting competing quotes, and they don't post them on SAM.gov. If you take Visa or Mastercard and a buyer knows you exist, you can get paid by the federal government next week.

The Numbers You Need

ThresholdAmountWhy it matters
Micro-purchase threshold$15,000Card buys, usually no quotes required
Construction (Davis-Bacon) micro-purchase limit$2,000Construction above this has prevailing wage rules
Services (Service Contract Act) micro-purchase limit$2,500Covered services above this need wage determinations
Public posting requiredOver $25,000 (synopsis); $20,000 to $25,000 posted 10 daysBelow that, buyers don't have to advertise
Simplified acquisition threshold$350,000Where simplified procedures end

One catch: agencies don't have to give every cardholder a $15,000 limit. Many cardholders still have lower limits set by their office.

Chart showing the $15,000 micro-purchase threshold next to the $350,000 simplified acquisition threshold and $900,000 subcontracting plan threshold for FY2026
Micro-purchases sit at the bottom step: under $15,000, often paid by government card.

How Micro-Purchases Work

The FAR makes the government purchase card the preferred way to pay for micro-purchases. A cardholder, often an office manager, a technician, or a supply clerk, needs something, confirms the price is reasonable, and buys it. No solicitation, no proposal, no evaluation board.

That's great for speed and terrible for visibility. You can't search for these buys on SAM.gov because they're never posted. You have to be findable before the cardholder starts looking.

Set-aside rules don't apply to micro-purchases, but federal guidance tells cardholders to consider small businesses "to the maximum extent practicable." Being small, local, and easy to buy from is a real advantage here.

Accepting the Card

If you already take Visa or Mastercard, you can take GSA SmartPay purchase cards. Normal processing fees apply. There's no special government merchant account to set up.

8 Tips to Get Picked for Card Purchases

  1. Find the cardholders near you. Military bases, VA medical centers, national parks, federal buildings, and Corps of Engineers offices all have people buying small things all year. Ask the installation's small business office who buys what you sell.
  2. Make buying from you take five minutes. A simple quote on letterhead, your UEI and CAGE code, a W-9 ready, and an online way to pay by card.
  3. Keep your prices defensible. Cardholders have to confirm the price is reasonable. Being in line with commercial prices makes the decision easy.
  4. Stay under the limit on one purchase. Never suggest splitting a bigger order into pieces to stay under $15,000. That's against the rules and it gets the cardholder in trouble.
  5. Keep SAM.gov active. Many offices check SAM.gov before buying even when it's not required. An expired registration loses you the sale.
  6. Fill out your SBA Small Business Search profile. Buyers and primes use it to find small businesses by keyword and location.
  7. Take cards on bigger orders too. Some contracts above the micro-purchase threshold also pay by card. It's faster money for you.
  8. Turn repeat buyers into contract customers. If an office buys from you every month, ask whether a blanket purchase agreement makes sense. That's how card sales become recurring revenue.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the micro-purchase threshold in 2026?

$15,000, effective October 1, 2025. The limits for construction covered by Davis-Bacon ($2,000) and services covered by the Service Contract Act ($2,500) did not change.

Are micro-purchases posted on SAM.gov?

No. Only actions over $25,000 must be synopsized on SAM.gov, and actions from $20,000 to $25,000 must be posted publicly for 10 days. Micro-purchases aren't advertised.

How do I accept a government purchase card?

If your business already accepts Visa or Mastercard, you can accept GSA SmartPay cards with your normal merchant account and fees.

Do I need to be registered in SAM.gov for micro-purchases?

Card purchases often don't require it, but many offices check anyway, and you'll need it for anything bigger. Registration is free.

Next step: Move up to bigger buys with the small business contracts guide and the first federal contract guide, and find posted work with the SAM.gov bid search guide. Every dollar limit is in our 2026-2027 thresholds list.