## Subpart 18.2—Emergency Acquisition Flexibilities

### 18.201 Contingency operation.

(a) Contingency operation is defined in 2.101.

(b) Micro-purchase threshold. The threshold increases when the head of the agency determines the supplies or services are to be used to support a contingency operation. (See 2.101 and 13.201(g).)

(c) Simplified acquisition threshold. The threshold increases when the head of the agency determines the supplies or services are to be used to support a contingency operation. (See 2.101.)

(d) SF 44, Purchase Order-Invoice-Voucher. The normal threshold for the use of the SF 44 is at or below the micro-purchase threshold. Agencies may, however, establish higher dollar limitations for purchases made to support a contingency operation. (See 13.306.)

(e) Test program for certain commercial items. The threshold limits authorized for use of the test program may be increased for acquisitions to support a contingency operation. (See 13.500(e).)

### 18.202 Defense or recovery from certain attacks.

(a) Micro-purchase threshold. The threshold increases when the head of the agency determines the supplies or services are to be used to facilitate defense against or recovery from nuclear, biological, chemical, or radiological attack. (See 2.101.)

(b) Simplified acquisition threshold. The threshold increases when the head of the agency determines the supplies or services are to be used to facilitate defense against or recovery from nuclear, biological, chemical, or radiological attack. (See 2.101.)

(c) Commercial items to facilitate defense and recovery. Contracting officers may treat any acquisition of supplies or services as an acquisition of commercial items if the head of the agency determines the acquisition is to be used to facilitate the defense against or recovery from nuclear, biological, chemical, or radiological attack. (See 12.102(f)(1) and 13.500(e).)

(d) Test program for certain commercial items. The threshold limits authorized for use of the test program may be increased when it is determined the acquisition is to facilitate defense against or recovery from nuclear, biological, chemical, or radiological attack. (See 13.500(e).)

### 18.203 Incidents of national significance, emergency declaration, or major disaster declaration.

(a) Disaster or emergency assistance activities. Preference will be given to local organizations, firms, and individuals when contracting for major disaster or emergency assistance activities when the President has made a declaration under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. Preference may take the form of local area set-asides or an evaluation preference. (See 6.207 and Subpart 26.2.)

(b) Ocean transportation by U.S. flag vessels. The provisions of the Cargo Preference Act of 1954 may be waived in emergency situations. (See 47.502(c).)

### 18.204 Resources.

(a) National Response Plan. The National Response Plan (NRP) provides a single, comprehensive framework for the management of domestic incidents where Federal involvement is necessary as required by the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-296). The NRP only applies to incidents of national significance, defined as an actual or potential high-impact event that requires a coordinated and effective response by an appropriate combination of Federal, State, local, tribal, nongovernmental, and/or private-sector entities in order to save lives, minimize damage, and provide for long-term community recovery and mitigation activities. The Department of Homeland Security is responsible for the NRP. The NRP is available at http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interapp/editorial/editorial_0566.xml.

(b) OFPP Guidelines. The Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) “Emergency Acquisitions Guide” is available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/procurement/guides/emergency_acquisitions_guide.pdf.

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