CAL-Card Program

CAL-Card is a flexible purchasing method for State and Local Government agencies.  It is the registered name of the State of California’s purchase card program.  CAL-Card is a VISA purchase card provided by a State of California leveraged procurement agreement (LPA) offered to participating state agencies granted purchasing authority and local government agencies. 

CAL-Card is issued in the name of the cardholder and billed to the agency.  CAL-Card provides a payment mechanism for the acquisition of goods and services with flexible spending limits and merchant category codes (MCC) for each card.  Limits for State agencies may not exceed the agency’s assigned purchasing authority dollar threshold for the acquisition method used.

CAL-Card is NOT a procurement approach or acquisition method.  Therefore, all agencies must follow all procurement laws, regulations, policies, procedures, and best practices as indicated in the CAL-Card Participating Addendum, as defined by the State of California State Contract Manual (State agencies only), and additional policies as defined by the State or Local agency.

CAL-Card is NOT a payment mechanism for travel-related expenses (State agencies only).