Guides · 4 min read
How to win micro-purchases (government buys under $15,000)
Updated October 30, 2026
A micro-purchase is a government buy of $15,000 or less (the threshold since October 1, 2025). These buys need no formal competition: a buyer only has to consider the price reasonable, and many pay by government purchase card. Hundreds of thousands of them are made every year.
Why they are different
- They are often never posted publicly. The buyer simply calls or orders from a supplier they know.
- Buyers are expected to spread micro-purchases among qualified suppliers, so a new supplier has a real opening.
- Payment by card can be quick.
How to get on a buyer's list
- Pick a few local or relevant buying offices and find their purchasing or small business contacts.
- Send a short capability statement: what you supply, your UEI and CAGE, and that you accept government purchase cards.
- Make ordering easy: quick quotes, clear pricing and reliable delivery.
- Deliver well on the first small order. Repeat business follows.
What to check
Even small orders can carry requirements: country of origin, delivery terms, or approved products. Read the order before you accept it.
ZukoBid's buying-office pages show what each office buys and who wins there, so you know which offices to approach and what they order.
Sources
- FAR 2.101 thresholds, adjusted October 1, 2025 (90 FR 41872)
- FAR Subpart 13.2, actions at or below the micro-purchase threshold
General information, not legal advice. Rules and thresholds change; the solicitation and the official rule are the authority.
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