Overview
This section prescribes the requirements for agency heads to establish a procurement career management program and outlines the specific criteria and formal procedures for selecting, appointing, and terminating the authority of contracting officers. It ensures that individuals authorized to bind the government possess the necessary experience, education, and formal certification required for the complexity of their assigned acquisitions.
Key Rules
- Selection Criteria: Appointing officials must evaluate candidates based on their experience, education, business acumen, judgment, and character, ensuring alignment with OFPP skill-based training standards.
- Formal Appointment (SF 1402): Contracting officers must be appointed in writing using the Standard Form 1402, "Certificate of Appointment" (commonly known as a "warrant"), which must explicitly state any limitations on their authority.
- Micro-purchase Exception: Individuals delegated micro-purchase authority do not require an SF 1402 but must still be appointed in writing according to agency procedures.
- Maintenance of Records: Agencies are required to maintain active files of all current appointments that have not been terminated.
- Termination Procedures: Appointments are terminated via a formal letter or automatic provisions within the certificate; notably, terminations cannot be applied retroactively.
Practical Implications
- Verification of Authority: Contractors must verify the specific dollar and subject matter limitations on a contracting officer’s SF 1402, as the government is generally not bound by actions that exceed a CO’s explicitly stated authority.
- Professional Standards: This section establishes a "professionalized" acquisition workforce, meaning that a CO’s authority is tied to their personal qualifications and formal appointment rather than just their job title or position.