Glossary / Acquisition, Finance
Simplified Acquisition ThresholdSAT
The simplified acquisition threshold is the value under which a federal buyer may use simplified acquisition procedures: a request for quotes, fewer clauses, less documentation and a faster award. It was raised from $250,000 to $350,000 on October 1, 2025 by the FAR Council's inflation adjustment. Purchases above the micro-purchase threshold and up to the SAT are reserved for small businesses when the contracting officer expects two or more small firms to quote at fair prices. Different thresholds apply in contingency and emergency operations.
Why it matters to your pipeline
The band between the micro-purchase threshold and the SAT is where first-time suppliers most often win: the buys are small, the paperwork is light and the competition is set aside for small businesses by default. A firm that watches for those requests for quotes can build past performance in months. GovSmith's Search filters by estimated value so a client sees the openings sized for a first award.
When this term shows up in an opening GovSmith finds for you, your vCM explains what it means for that pursuit and does whatever it calls for. You decide; we do the work.
Example
An Army installation posts a $180,000 request for quotes for conference-room audio-visual upgrades. Three small firms quote within ten days and the award goes out in three weeks, with no proposal volume and no oral presentation.
Find out what applies to you
Some terms will matter to your business right away and some won’t for years. A vCM can tell you which are which.