For purposes of this section, the micro-purchase threshold for procurement activities administered under sections 6303 through 6305 of title 31 by institutions of higher education (as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)), or related or affiliated nonprofit entities, or by nonprofit research organizations or independent research institutes is—

(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, for purposes of this section, the micro-purchase threshold is $10,000.

For purposes of this section, the micro-purchase threshold for procurement activities administered under sections 6303 through 6305 of title 31 by institutions of higher education (as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)), or related or affiliated nonprofit entities, or by nonprofit research organizations or independent research institutes is—

(A) $10,000; or

(B) such higher threshold as determined appropriate by the head of the relevant executive agency and consistent with clean audit findings under chapter 75 of title 31, internal institutional risk assessment, or State law.

The head of each executive agency shall ensure that procuring activities of that agency, when awarding a contract with a price exceeding the micro-purchase threshold, comply with the requirements of section 8(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(a)) and section 7102 of the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994 (Public Law 103–355, 15 U.S.C. 644 note).

(1) Compliance with certain requirements.— The head of each executive agency shall ensure that procuring activities of that agency, when awarding a contract with a price exceeding the micro-purchase threshold, comply with the requirements of section 8(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(a)) and section 7102 of the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994 (Public Law 103–355, 15 U.S.C. 644 note).

(2) Nonapplicability of certain authority.— The authority under part 13.106(a)(1) of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (48 C.F.R. 13.106(a)(1)), as in effect on November 18, 1993, to make purchases without securing competitive quotations does not apply to a purchase with a price exceeding the micro-purchase threshold.

An executive agency purchase with an anticipated value of the micro-purchase threshold or less is not subject to section 15(j) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 644(j)) and chapter 83 of this title.

A purchase with a price not greater than the micro-purchase threshold may be made without obtaining competitive quotations if an employee of an executive agency or a member of the armed forces, authorized to do so, determines that the price for the purchase is reasonable.

Purchases with a price not greater than the micro-purchase threshold shall be distributed equitably among qualified suppliers.

This section shall be implemented through the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

(Pub. L. 111–350, § 3, Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 3720; Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title II, § 217(b), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2051; Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title VIII, § 806(a), Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1456; Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, §§ 812(a)(2)(C)(ix), 821(b), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1847, 1853.)