What is an unauthorized commitment?

An unauthorized commitment refers to an agreement made by someone who does not have the authority to obligate the government to a financial transaction. The only scenario where an agreement can be viewed as unauthorized and thus not binding involves situations where the purchase amount exceeds the micro-purchase threshold. The micro-purchase threshold represents a specific financial limit, below which certain procurement procedures are simplified, allowing for informal agreements and transactions. When a commitment exceeds this limit, it requires appropriate authority and compliance with regulatory frameworks to be valid.

In the context of the other options, while an agreement that is legally binding or based on verbal acknowledgment could be permissible under specific conditions when authorized personnel are involved, neither reflects the critical aspect of an unauthorized commitment as per the defined thresholds. Furthermore, an agreement below the micro-purchase threshold is considered valid and does not represent an unauthorized commitment; rather, it simplifies the purchasing process. Thus, the definition of an unauthorized commitment clearly aligns with agreements made without proper authority when the amount in question surpasses established limits.