Purchase Cards - Documents and Guides

The Department of Defense Governmentwide Commercial Purchase Card Guidebook consolidates and codifies DoD Governmentwide Commercial Purchase Card (GPC) policy (e.g., statutes, regulations, policies, memorandums, issuances, procedures, and guidance) and provides information to help GPC Program Participants establish, manage, operate, and provide oversight of DoD GPC programs established under General Services Administration SmartPay® tailored task orders.

Additional Resources  

DoD SmartPay3 GPC High-Risk and Very-High-Risk MCC List [CAC enabled]

Reduction to Component Validation Requirements for A/OPC Monthly and SAHAR Reports

Purchase Log Requirements and Standard Operating Procedures [CAC enabled]

The FY2022-FY2023 DoD GPC Charge Card Management Plan is now available. As required by Appendix B of OMB Circular A-123, this plan outlines the policies and procedures used by DoD to ensure that the objectives of the GPC Program are realized and an effective system of internal controls is in place to identify and manage high-risk transactions. This plan applies to all DoD GPC programs under the Army / Air Force / Defense Agencies and Navy SmartPay® 3 (SP3) Task Orders.

Considerations and Resources: Contracting Support Using Emergency Acquisition Flexibilities

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Policy Exception

In accordance with the DoD GPC Guidebook's requirements for obtaining a limited exception to the UAS prohibition, prior to purchasing UAS with the GPC, the CH must obtain the “Pre-Purchase Exception to Policy Approval Form” from the requiring activity to document necessary determinations. The applicable form, based on effective date, shall be completed prior to using the GPC to fulfill all UAS requirements.

Purchase Card Policy

The Policy Log Matrix lists all relevant Purchase Card Policy by year and includes a summary of each policy document for easy browsing.

GPC policy memos for prior years, incorporated into the Department of Defense Governmentwide Commercial Purchase Card Guidebook, are available on the GPC Archive page.


This memorandum publishes the Department of Defense Governmentwide Commercial Purchase Card Guidebook, which is available on the DPCAP website at https://www.acq.osd.mil/asda/dpc/ce/pc/docs-guides.html. This issuance supersedes the DoD Government Charge Card Guidebook for Establishing and Managing Purchase, Travel, and Fuel Card Programs. (03/17/2025)

This memo directs an immediate suspension on all government-issued Government Purchase Cards held by DoD Civilian employees in order to comply with the recent Executive Order. Component heads may authorize exceptions following criteria outlined in the memo. (03/04/2025)

The Archive provides historical GPC documents for reference by the Purchase Card community.

Related Documents

The Principal Director, Defense Pricing, Contracting, and Acquisition Policy issues class deviations when necessary to allow organizations to deviate from the FAR and DFARS. Attachments in Word format for class deviations can be found here.