Government Purchase Cards: Opportunities Exist to Leverage Buying Power
Abstract
The purchase card program was designed to streamline relatively small dollar value acquisitions of goods and services. In fiscal year 2015, the government spent approximately $19 billion using purchase cards. GAO was asked to review whether agencies are effectively leveraging their buying power when using purchase cards. This report assesses the extent to which selected (1) agencies analyze purchase card data to identify opportunities to leverage buying power agency-wide and (2) purchase cardholders seek opportunities to achieve cost savings when using purchase cards. GAO analyzed data from the three banks that work with the six selected agencies--selected in part on varying levels of purchase card spend volume--to manage their purchase card programs. GAO evaluated policies, reviewed strategic sourcing efforts related to purchase cards, and interviewed officials. GAO also interviewed officials from the General Services Administration who manage the government's purchase card contracts, and interviewed selected cardholders at the two agencies with the highest purchase card spend.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 2016
- Accession Number
- AD1174107
Entities
People
- Ji Byun
- Lorraine Ettaro
- Marie A. Mak
- Mitch Karpman
- Pete Anderson
- Ralph Roffo
- Robert Heilman
- Sylvia Schatz
- Tatiana Winger
- Thomas Twambly
- Virginia Chanley
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office