Overview
FAR 42.1103 establishes the fundamental division of responsibility for contract execution, asserting that while contractors must ensure timely performance, the Government must conduct appropriate oversight to protect its interests.
Key Rules
- Contractor Responsibility: The primary burden for meeting delivery schedules and performance timelines rests solely with the contractor.
- Government Surveillance: The Government is mandated to monitor contractor progress to the extent necessary to safeguard public interests and ensure contract compliance.
- Administrative Discretion: When a contracting office retains contract administration (rather than delegating to a contract administration office), the specific Contracting Officer (CO) determines the appropriate level and intensity of surveillance required.
Practical Implications
- Contractors must proactively manage their schedules, as the Government’s failure to perform surveillance does not relieve the contractor of its responsibility for timely delivery.
- Oversight is scalable; high-risk, complex, or critical-priority contracts will typically trigger more rigorous Government monitoring than routine acquisitions.