Directive on acquisition cards purchases

1. Effective date

The Directive takes effect on July 3, 2015.

2. Application

This Directive applies to all government departments and agencies that have a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to implement the Ineligibility and Suspension Policy and the Integrity provisions. It applies to all purchases made through acquisition cards, regardless of monetary amount.

3. Context

On July 3, 2015, following a commitment made in Economic Action Plan 2015, the Government of Canada introduced a new government-wide Integrity Regime. The Integrity Regime is governed by the Ineligibility and Suspension Policy and Integrity provisions.

The Ineligibility and Suspension Policy enables the Minister of Public Works and Government Services (PWGS) to issue Directives excluding different classes of contracts/real property transactions.

4. Directive statement

4.1 Objective

To exclude purchases made through acquisition cards, regardless of monetary amount, from the application of the Ineligibility and Suspension Policy and Integrity provisions.

4.2 Expected results

• Administrative burden associated with applying the Integrity Regime to acquisition card purchases, which are typically low value and routine (i.e. travel, office supplies, and training), is eliminated.
  • This includes eliminating verification requests against overlapping transactions (i.e. transactions with a small number of pre-approved providers).
• Continuity is maintained between the new Integrity Regime and the previous Integrity Framework, which excluded acquisition cards from application.

5. Definitions

5.1 Acquisition cards

An acquisition card is a charge card issued under a contract between card issuers and the Government of Canada for the procurement and the payment of goods and services that are authorized official government business transactions.

6. Requirements

The Ineligibility and Suspension Policy and Integrity provisions are not required to apply to acquisition card purchases.

7. Inquiries

If you have questions related to this Directive, please contact the Integrity Regime Team:

Toll free:

1-844-705-2084

Email:

pwgsc.o.integrity-tpsgc.o.integrite@pwgsc-tpsgc.gc.ca

From: Public Services and Procurement Canada