a mandatory government source of supply. The mandatory sources are as follows: Defense/federal supply systems for material assigned an NSN Excess personal property from other agencies Federal prison industries National industries for the blind or other severely handicapped Mandatory GSA federal contracts Optional GSA federal contracts supply schedule supply schedule OPEN MARKET PURCHASES The methods for making small purchases and corresponding dollar limitations are as follows: Small business-small purchase set-aside. Each purchase with small business concerns must be ,000 or less. Blanket purchase agreement (BPA). Each BPA call may not exceed ,000 (except ,000 for inventory control points [ICPs]) with an unlimited amount for subsistence. Imprest fund (IF). Each purchase using the IF may not exceed 0. Purchase order. Each purchase order may not exceed ,000. Purchase invoice. The purchase invoice method using the Standard Form 44 may not exceed ,500 (except ,000 for aviation fuel and oil purchased by pilots). SMALL PURCHASE PROCEDURES A purchase request (PR) must be prepared and approved before the contracting officer starts a purchase action. A PR includes the various MILSTRIP requisitions, a Request for Contrac- tual Procurement, NAVCOMPT Form 2276, or the Military Interdepartmental Purchase Request, DD Form 448. Purchase Request All PRs received must be receipt dated, screened, routed for recording, and assigned a control or route sheet. The initial screening includes an authorized signature; accounting information; a priority designator and a required delivery date; clearance and approval; and an attached statement of work, technical specifica- tions, drawings, or blueprints. A final screening of all PRs is conducted by the buyer or storekeeper for adequacy. When a PR is determined to be inadequate, it is returned to the originator for modification or cancellation. Each contracting office establishes minimum standards for requirements data that must be included as a part of each PR before it is considered adequate. The minimum level of information needed to determine adequacy should include, but not necessarily be limited to, the following: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. Funding Plain English (adequate purchase descrip tion or specification or statement of work) Part number and corresponding CAGE code Quantity Required delivery date or period of per- formance and priority designator Place of delivery with proper consignment instructions, if applicable Previous buys and prices paid for the same or similar item or, when no history exists, a price estimate and the basis upon which the estimate was established Sole source justification, if required A point of contact for technical information Any unique requirements such as mark- ing, packing, or transportation account- ing codes Document number Funding of Purchase Request The estimated cost shown on the PR is the amount committed by the requiring activity to cover the purchase of supplies or services. Responsibility for controlling the obligation of funds and the limitations of such funds is vested exclusively in the allotment holder or designated representative. However, this does not relieve the contracting officer from complying with purchas- ing regulations contained in the SUPARS. The 4-2