Overview
This section identifies the Contracting Officer as the official primarily responsible for the acceptance of supplies or services and establishes the legal authority of delegated agencies.
Key Rules
- Primary Authority: The Contracting Officer (CO) retains ultimate responsibility for accepting supplies or services on behalf of the Government.
- Delegation: Responsibility for acceptance may be formally assigned to a cognizant contract administration office (CAO) or another agency.
- Binding Nature: When acceptance authority is delegated, any acceptance performed by that office or agency is legally binding on the Government.
Practical Implications
- Contractors must verify whether acceptance authority remains with the procuring CO or has been delegated to a contract administration office (such as DCMA) to ensure they are seeking sign-off from the correct official.
- Once an authorized representative accepts a delivery, the Government is generally precluded from later rejecting the items for patent defects, shifting the risk of loss and triggering the payment process.