PURCHASING
The NAVSUP P-560, together with the Navy
Acquisition Regulation Supplement (NAVSUP), the
D e p a r t m e n t o f D e f e n s e Fe d e r a l A c q u i s i t i o n
Learning Objective: Determine the
Regulation Supplement (DFARS), and the Federal
procedures for making purchases and uphold
Acquisition Regulation (FAR), is used by all Navy
the purchasing regulations.
activities for basic purchasing and contracting
guidance.
Supplies and services that are not stocked or
supplied must be procured by an activity to fulfill its
TRAINING
a s s i g n e d m i s s i o n . T h e NAV S U P I N S T 4 2 0 0 . 8 5
p r ov i d e s i n s t r u c t i o n a n d g u i d a n c e c o n c e r n i n g
All personnel involved in the purchasing function
purchase or procurement of material from
such as contracting officers, Storekeepers, and buyers
commercial suppliers. Purchase actions are normally
must attend a NAVSUP authorized small purchase
taken by a shore activity as a result of ships'
course. In addition, the management of all activities
requisitions. However, ships' supply officers and
performing a purchasing function must make sure
commanding officers of ships without Supply Corps
personnel are adequately trained to maintain and
officers may obtain requirements for supplies or
improve the quality of the purchasing function.
services by purchase on the open market when all of
the following conditions exist:
STANDARDS OF CONDUCT
1. There is an immediate and urgent requirement
All personnel engaged in purchasing and related
for authorized supplies or services.
functions occupy positions of public trust. Such
2. The supplies or services are not available at the
personnel must, therefore, conduct themselves with
local supply support activity.
absolute fidelity to the government. Accordingly, a
person must not allow himself or herself to be placed
3. Time is of the essence and scheduled operations
in a position in which conflict of interests may arise or
will not permit procurement through Navy
in which he or she may justifiably be suspected.
shore-based purchasing activities.
Accepting gratuities or favors or engaging in any
The senior officer present may impose other
other action that would result in financial profit or
purchase restrictions afloat (SOPA), particularly when
influence strict impartiality must absolutely be
in foreign ports.
avoided.
1. The supplies or services are not available at the
Information concerning proposed purchasing
local supply support activity.
actions may not be made available to particular
2. Supply department complement is sufficient to
suppliers unless such information is made available to
handle the additional workload involved
all competing suppliers.
without detrimental effects.
There are certain statutes that make it a crime for
3. The supply officer is reasonably familiar with
an agent of the government to engage in practices or
the local market area in the vicinity where the
activities that are at variance with the high standard of
ship is located.
personal conduct that a person owes to the United
States as such an agent. A digest of applicable
4. All transactions are made by an approved small
provisions of these statutes is set forth in
purchase method providing for immediate
SECNAVINST 5370.2. Any person engaged in
delivery of material purchased.
purchasing should make it a particular point to
PURCHASING REGULATIONS
acquaint themselves with the provisions of the
applicable statutes.
Detailed instructions and guidelines concerning
the purchase or procurement of material or services
RESTRICTIONS
from commercial suppliers are contained in the Navy
Activities afloat, either in the United States or
S u p p l y A c q u i s i t i o n R eg u l a t i o n S u p p l e m e n t
foreign ports, may not purchase the following
( S U PA R S ) , N AV S U P P - 5 6 0 . F l e e t f a s t p a y
materials without the specific authority from the
procedures are contained in applicable Defense
cognizant bureau or command:
Accounting Office (DAO) instructions.
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