a. GPCs are issued only as mission requirements dictate. Only DoD civilian employees or members of the Armed Forces may be issued a GPC or be appointed a BO. GPCs may not be issued to contractor personnel, except as provided in paragraph 1-5d. Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) instructors, Outside Continental United States (OCONUS) local national employees of the Army, and host Government direct-hires for OCONUS agencies/organizations whose salaries are reimbursed by the Army or DoD tenant organizations, are not considered DoD contractors, and may be designated as CHs and BOs. Traditional National Guard members and State employees are prohibited from being appointed as a CH, BO or A/OPC. The following types of purchases require a separate card account dedicated solely for that purpose:

1) Contract Payments

2) Official Representation Funds (ORF)

3) Ammunition

4) Gift Fund (for donated or proffered monies)

5) Lodging in Kind (LIK) and Subsistence in Kind (SIK)

b. Card Account Limits. Each card account has a single purchase limit and a cycle or monthly limit. In most cases, the single purchase limit is the micro-purchase threshold. The cycle limit is determined by the anticipated spending needs of the cardholder.

c. Managing Account Limits. Each managing account has a cycle limit and a credit limit. The cycle limit is the sum of the monthly limits of all cardholders under the managing account. The credit limit is three times the managing account’s cycle limit.

d. Establishing Credit Limits. A/OPCs and RMs must jointly establish appropriate spending limits, and MCC access tailored to each CH account and MA based on historical buying patterns/trends, with consideration given to future mission needs. Budgetary limits may equal but not exceed the limits established in the CH appointment letter issued in JAM. The bank’s EAS will maintain single purchase and monthly spending limits and can restrict purchases to particular MCCs. These limits may be initially established based on the CH’s delegation authority and adjusted to meet budgetary constraints. The procurement authority in the letter of delegation may never exceed what is authorized by the FAR/DFARS (e.g., a CH with delegated authority of $10,000 is still limited to $2,500 when purchasing services subject to Service Contract Labor Standards (41 USC Chapter 67)). The A/OPC will review individual CH spending limits each year and coordinate with the BO and RM in the event adjustment of spending limits as projected for the upcoming year is required. A/OPCs must update the appointment in JAM before increasing credit limits in the EAS. The A/OPC and the RM may make changes to the purchase limits to meet mission requirements within the CH’s authority.