2-7.
THE APPROVING OFFICIAL
The AO is the individual appointed by the Director of Contracting to approve each
purchase prior to use of the credit card and review the cardholder's monthly statement.
The AO will sign the cardholder's monthly statement and ensure the payments are for
purchases authorized and made in accordance with (IAW) the FAR and agency policy.
The AO should be the cardholder's supervisor or a higher level official. A cardholder
cannot be his own AO.
2-8.
THE APPROVING OFFICIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
The AO must ensure that all purchases:
a. Are correct and fulfill mission requirements.
b. Do not exceed spending limits.
c. Are not for personal use.
d. Have not been split into smaller segments to stay under the ,500 threshold.
2-9.
PRIME VENDOR
A prime vendor is a distributor contracted (by US Army Dental Command
[DENCOM]) as the main source of all expendable medical and dental supplies. The
contract ensures the dental clinics that the prime vendor (distributor) will stock sufficient
amounts of designated supplies to ensure that the dental clinics receive 95 percent of
the items ordered within 24 hours (or whatever the agreed contract states). In return,
the dental clinics are contractually obligated to order all expendable medical and dental
supplies from that vendor. Only when the prime vendor is unable to provide a given
item can the dental clinics order that specific item from other sources. The medical
prime vendor contracts are awarded and administered by either the Defense Supply
Center Philadelphia (DSCP) or Veterans Administration (VA). Prime Vendor is used in
table of distribution and allowances (TDA) organizations and table of organization and
equipment (TOE) units. A TOE unit uses Prime Vendor as part of medical materials
readiness support planning and execution of missions, not for sustaining or resupply.
2-10. MEDICAL SUPPLY PUBLICATIONS FOR A TO&E UNIT
a. Official Reference for Requisitioning. Standard items of medical and
dental supply available to the AMEDD are listed in the medical materiel portion of the
Federal Supply Catalog, the Department of Defense section. The catalog is the official
reference for requisitioning dental and medical supplies for the dental clinic.
MD0510
2-4