Which option expresses the relationship between prime vendors and the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA)?

• A. Civilian companies that accept the International Merchant Purchase Authorization Card (IMPAC)
• B. Civilian companies contracted by Defense Logistics Agency (DLA)
• C. Civilian companies with which the government has a blanket purchase agreement
• D. Civilian companies that use the 13-digit national stock number (NSN)

Answer: (B)

A prime vendor is a civilian company that DLA directly contracts to supply a defined set of goods or services for the government. This means the contractor becomes the primary source for those items, handling fulfillment under a formal contract and receiving government purchase orders for the defined category. That direct contracting relationship is exactly what the option describes: civilian companies contracted by Defense Logistics Agency (DLA).

The other ideas don’t define this specific relationship. Using an IMPAC card is about a procurement card program, not a direct vendor arrangement. A blanket purchase agreement sets terms for recurring purchases with a supplier but doesn’t establish the prime-vendor role. A 13-digit national stock number is simply an item identifier, not a relationship between the government and a supplier.