a. Cardholders must comply with FAR Part 8 FPI requirements for items estimated between $3,500.01 and the MPT. FAR 8.6 describes the procedures for acquisition from FPI/UNICOR. Additional information about FPI/UNICOR is available at UNICOR’s website. Cardholders may request a waiver from FPI/UNICOR (FAR 8.604). The Army will process any waiver requests in accordance with the UNICOR Waiver Process. For supply purchases priced above $3,500, follow the steps in Figure 9-1 to determine whether the purchase must be made from FPI/UNICOR.

Figure 9-1: FPI Purchasing Decision Framework

b. When following priorities for use of mandatory sources, if FPI (also referenced by the trade name UNICOR) and AbilityOne participating nonprofit agencies produce identical supplies or services, FPI is the higher priority for supplies and AbilityOne is the higher priority for services ( FAR 8.002 and FAR 8.603 ).

c. Purchase from FPI/UNICOR is not mandatory, and a waiver is not required, if any of the following exceptions from FAR 8.605 apply:

1) The contracting officer makes a unilateral determination (on a case-by-case basis) that the FPI/UNICOR item of supply is not comparable to supplies available from the private sector that best meet the Government’s needs in terms of price, quality, and time of delivery (FAR 8.602(a)(1)); and the item is acquired in accordance with FAR 8.602(a)(4). Cardholders should work with their supporting contracting office to make this determination.

2) Public exigency requires immediate delivery or performance.

3) Suitable used or excess supplies are available.

4) The supplies are acquired and used outside the United States.

5) The supplies are priced at or below $3,500.

6) The items FPI/UNICOR offers are being purchased exclusively on a competitive (non-mandatory) basis, as identified in the UNICOR Schedule.

7) Services are being purchased.

8) FPI/UNICOR is not a mandatory supplier for the supply being purchased. See the UNICOR Alphabetical Schedule of Products and Services to determine whether a requirement is available from FPI/UNICOR.

9) FPI/UNICOR’s share of the DoD Market for a mandatory item in an FSC is greater than 5 percent. See the list at Purchases from Federal Prison Industries; Updated List of Federal Supply Classification Codes to be Competed.