Agencies should make small purchases from small businesses whenever possible, according to new guidelines from the Office of Federal Procurement Policy.

The memo says buyers should be trained to look to small firms “to the maximum extent practicable” when using government purchase cards for goods and services costing less than the $3,000 micropurchase threshold. Those small purchases are exempt from set-aside rules.

Outgoing OFPP Administrator Dan Gordon said about 30% of purchase-card transactions under $3,000 went to small firms in 2010, a total of $6 billion.

The 2010 Small Business Jobs Act called for an analysis of purchase-card spending and guidelines to encourage buyers to use small businesses when making small purchases.

Gordon said agencies can track their spending with small companies through GSA’s Smart Pay purchase cards and credit those dollars toward their small business goals. Small business purchases through GSA Advantage! and the Defense Department’s e-Mall can also be tracked.

“Increasing opportunities for small businesses in federal contracting is a top priority for this administration,” Gordon wrote.