10 USC § 3205 - Simplified procedures for small purchases

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t10/s3205"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "10 USC § 3205 - Simplified procedures for small purchases"
title_number: 10
title_name: "ARMED FORCES"
section_number: "3205"
section_name: "Simplified procedures for small purchases"
chapter_number: 221
chapter_name: "PLANNING AND SOLICITATION GENERALLY"
part_number: "V"
part_name: "ACQUISITION"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Added and amended Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title XVIII, § 1811(d)(1), (9), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4166, 4170.)"
---


# § 3205. Simplified procedures for small purchases

**(a)** **Authorization.—** In order to promote efficiency and economy in contracting and to avoid unnecessary burdens for agencies and contractors, the Federal Acquisition Regulation shall provide for—

**(1)** special simplified procedures for purchases of property and services for amounts not greater than the simplified acquisition threshold; and

**(2)** special simplified procedures for purchases of property and services for amounts greater than the simplified acquisition threshold but not greater than $5,000,000 with respect to which the contracting officer reasonably expects, based on the nature of the property or services sought and on market research, that offers will include only commercial products or commercial services.

**(b)** **Prohibition on Dividing Contracts.—** A proposed purchase or contract for an amount above the simplified acquisition threshold may not be divided into several purchases or contracts for lesser amounts in order to use the simplified procedures required by subsection (a).

**(c)** **Promotion of Competition.—** In using simplified procedures, the head of an agency shall promote competition to the maximum extent practicable.

**(d)** **Compliance With Special Requirements of Federal Acquisition Regulation.—** The head of an agency shall comply with the Federal Acquisition Regulation provisions referred to in section 1901(e) of title 41.

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**Source Credit**: (Added and amended Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title XVIII, § 1811(d)(1), (9), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4166, 4170.)

## Editorial Notes

### Codification

The text of subsec. (g) of , which was transferred to this section and amended by , was based on , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , title IV, § 4401(a), , , 3347; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , .

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 3205, , ; , , ; , (65), , , 1463; , , , prescribed authorized strength of Regular Army in commissioned officers on active list, exclusive of certain categories, prior to repeal by , title VII, § 701, , , 2955, effective .

### Amendments

2021—Subsec. (a). , (C), inserted heading, struck out par. (1) designation before “In order to”, and redesignated subpars. (A) and (B) as pars. (1) and (2), respectively. Former pars. (2) to (4) redesignated subsecs. (b) to (d), respectively.

, redesignated subsec. (g) of  as subsec. (a) of this section.

Subsec. (b). , (D), redesignated subsec. (a)(2) as (b), inserted heading, and substituted “subsection (a)” for “paragraph (1)”.

Subsec. (c). , (E), redesignated subsec. (a)(3) as (c) and inserted heading.

Subsec. (d). , (F), redesignated subsec. (a)(4) as (d) and inserted heading.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section and amendment by  effective , with additional provisions for delayed implementation and applicability of existing law, see , set out as an Effective Date of 2021 Amendment note preceding .