What criteria must be met for a purchase to be considered proper under GPC guidelines?

The criteria that must be met for a purchase to be considered proper under GPC guidelines includes the necessity for the purchase to align with regulatory requirements and to fall within the approved limits. This means that any acquisition made using the Governmentwide Commercial Purchase Card must not only be legally permissible but also adhere to specific financial limitations set forth by the agency or governing bodies.

Compliance with regulatory requirements ensures that purchases are conducted in accordance with laws and policies designed to maintain accountability and integrity within government procurement. Falling within approved limits means that the cost of the purchase must not exceed the thresholds established for GPC transactions, which are meant to protect government funds by preventing unauthorized or extravagant spending.

The other presented criteria, while important in certain contexts, do not encompass the essential elements that define a proper GPC purchase as comprehensively as the correct answer. For instance, budget constraints and environmental regulations could be relevant but are secondary to the foundational regulatory compliance and adherence to spending limits essential for GPC transactions. Additionally, requiring approval from a senior officer might be necessary in some situations, but it does not universally qualify a purchase under GPC guidelines as thoroughly as meeting regulatory and limit criteria does.