Can contractors use a Government employee's Government Purchase Card without authorization?

The appropriate answer is that contractors cannot use a Government employee's Government Purchase Card without authorization because doing so violates established guidelines and policies governing the use of Government Purchase Cards. These cards are designated for official Government use by authorized personnel only, and contractors are not included in this group.

Allowing contractors to use these cards without explicit permission would undermine the integrity of the procurement process and increase the risk of misuse or fraud. Government Purchase Card policies are designed to ensure that expenditures are made only by those who are responsible for handling Government funds and that there is a clear record of all transactions associated with the card.

In this context, indicating that contractors can use the card with special permissions, or only for small purchases, deviates from policy standards that strictly limit card usage to authorized personnel.