Delegated Purchasing Authority

Statutory authority for the competitive and non-competitive procurement of non-Information Technology goods and Information Technology goods and services for State government resides with the Department of General Services. DGS also has the statutory authority to delegate its purchasing authority to departments that meet specific requirements.

Without delegated purchasing authority, departments may conduct competitive procurements for non-Information Technology goods valued at up to $100 per transaction and may not conduct competitive and non-competitive procurements for Information Technology goods and services of any value.

Purchasing authority granted by DGS includes use of the State's leveraged procurement agreements (CMAS; Master Agreements, including WSCA and Cal-Store, Statewide Contracts, State Price Schedules, and Software License Program), purchases from Prision Industry Authority, and purchases under the Community-Based Rehabilitation Program. Purchasing Authority is required to participate in the State's CAL-Card Purchase Card Program.

State Contracting Manual, Volume 2

The State Contracting Manual (SCM), Volume 2 contains the requirements for departments to obtain and retain purchasing authority. In addition to purchasing authority requirements, the Manual includes:

  • The types, categories, and dollar levels of purchasing authority available to departments;
  • The Purchasing Authority Application, which departments must use to request non-information technology and/or information technology purchasing authority; and 
  • Many links to other websites for source documents, forms, and other resource information.
The SCM, Volume 2 will be updated on a regular basis and all Procurement and/or Contracting Officers and Purchasing Authority Contacts will be notified.
Departments with Approved Purchasing Authority
A listing of departments granted purchasing authority, including the types, categories, and dollar levels of authority granted and department contact names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses, are provided below:

Departments with Approved Purchasing Authority (MS Excel)
Departments with Approved Purchasing Authority (PDF)
Contact PAMS
Business Hours:
8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Mailing Address:
Department of General Services
Procurement Division
Attn: PAMS Unit
707 3rd Street, 2nd Floor
West Sacramento, CA 95605

Email Address:
PAMS@dgs.ca.gov