CAL-Card Program

CAL-Card 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) and offered to participating state and local government agencies. Generally, a state agency is defined as a California government agency serving the entirety of the State of California whereas a local government (publicly funded) agency serves a specific location or region in the State of California. 

CAL-Card provides a flexible payment mechanism for the acquisition of goods and services with flexible spending limits and merchant category codes (MCC) for each card.  Cards are issued in the name of the cardholder and billed to the agency.

CAL-Card is NOT a procurement approach or acquisition method.  Therefore, agencies must adhere to all procurement laws, regulations, policies, procedures, and best practices as indicated in the CAL-Card Participating Addendum and State Contract Manuals (state agencies only).  Individual state and local agencies may establish additional internal policies, procedures and limitations for cardholders.

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