What did you do wrong if you agreed to purchase construction services for $2,400 with the Governmentwide Commercial Purchase Card?

The reasoning behind why exceeding the $2,000 limit is the correct answer is rooted in the guidelines that govern the usage of the Governmentwide Commercial Purchase Card (GPC). For construction services, there is a specific threshold of $2,000, above which additional procurement procedures must be followed. If a cardholder agrees to purchase construction services for $2,400, they have surpassed this established limit, which triggers a requirement for more formal contracting processes that ensure compliance with federal acquisition regulations. This limit is in place to ensure proper oversight and to control spending, aligning with the principles of government accountability and fiscal responsibility.

The other considerations, while they may seem relevant, do not directly address the primary violation regarding the spending limit for construction services. For instance, not obtaining approvals may be a concern, but the core issue here revolves around the amount exceeded. Similarly, using the card for unauthorized services pertains to the nature of the purchase rather than the financial threshold, and failing to verify the vendor’s eligibility is essential in general practices but does not directly relate to the specific limit that has been surpassed. Therefore, the most critical infraction in this scenario is indeed the violation of the $2,000 spending limit for construction services.