FAR 1.602-2—Responsibilities.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 1.602-2 explains the core responsibilities of contracting officers and the rules for using contracting officer’s representatives (CORs). It covers the contracting officer’s duty to ensure effective contracting actions, contract compliance, and protection of the Government’s interests; the requirement to have sufficient funds and meet the basic contracting authority requirements in 1.602-1(b); the duty to treat contractors impartially and fairly; the expectation to seek advice from technical and legal specialists; and the requirement to appoint CORs in writing under agency procedures. It also sets out who may serve as a COR, the training and certification expectations, the limits on COR authority, how CORs are nominated and designated, and the required contents of the written designation. In practice, this section is about making sure the Government has a properly authorized, informed, and controlled acquisition team so that contract administration is effective and unauthorized commitments are avoided. It is especially important because it draws a bright line between the contracting officer’s authority and the COR’s limited delegated role.
Key Rules
CO bears overall responsibility
The contracting officer is responsible for all necessary actions for effective contracting, compliance with the contract, and safeguarding the United States’ interests. The CO is expected to use business judgment and is given wide latitude to do so.
Verify authority and funds
Before acting, the contracting officer must ensure the requirements of FAR 1.602-1(b) are met and that sufficient funds are available for obligation. This is a basic prerequisite to valid contracting action.
Treat contractors fairly
The contracting officer must ensure contractors receive impartial, fair, and equitable treatment. This requirement applies throughout the contracting relationship and helps preserve integrity in procurement decisions.
Use specialist advice
The contracting officer should request and consider advice from audit, legal, engineering, information security, transportation, and other specialists as appropriate. The rule recognizes that effective contracting often requires multidisciplinary input.
Appoint CORs in writing
The contracting officer must designate and authorize a COR in writing, following agency procedures, for all contracts and orders other than firm-fixed-price, and for firm-fixed-price contracts and orders when appropriate, unless the CO retains and performs the COR duties. The designation must be documented and shared as required.
COR must be qualified and authorized
A COR generally must be a Government employee unless agency regulations allow otherwise, must be certified under FAC-COR or applicable DoD guidance, and must be qualified by training and experience. The COR’s authority is limited to the written delegation and cannot be redelegated.
COR authority is limited
A COR may not make commitments or changes affecting price, quality, quantity, delivery, or other contract terms, and may not direct the contractor or subcontractors to work contrary to the contract. The COR may perform only those duties delegated by the CO and may not take over functions assigned to a contract administration office under FAR 42.202.
Written designation must state limits
The COR designation must specify the scope of authority, limitations, period of coverage, non-redelegable nature of the authority, and that the COR may be personally liable for unauthorized acts. Copies must be furnished to the contractor and the contract administration office.
Responsibilities
Contracting Officer
Ensure effective contracting actions, contract compliance, and protection of the Government’s interests; verify the requirements of FAR 1.602-1(b) and availability of funds; treat contractors fairly and impartially; seek and consider specialist advice when needed; designate and authorize CORs in writing under agency procedures; define the COR’s authority and limits; and retain any COR duties the CO chooses to perform personally.
Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR)
Perform only the duties delegated in writing by the contracting officer; remain within the limits of the designation; avoid making unauthorized commitments or directing changes to contract terms; be a Government employee unless agency rules allow otherwise; maintain required certification and qualifications; and understand that unauthorized acts may create personal liability.
Agency
Establish procedures for COR nomination, designation, qualification, and documentation; determine when non-government personnel may serve as CORs if authorized by regulation; and ensure agency acquisition personnel follow the applicable FAC-COR or DoD certification guidance and contract administration rules.
Requiring Activity
Nominate a COR, when required by agency procedures, and help identify a qualified individual who can support contract oversight and administration.
Contract Administration Office
Receive the COR designation when required, coordinate administration functions as applicable, and avoid overlap with duties that have been assigned to the contract administration office under FAR 42.202.
Practical Implications
Contracting officers cannot treat CORs as a substitute for their own authority; the CO remains responsible even when day-to-day monitoring is delegated.
A poorly written COR designation is a common source of problems. If the scope, limits, and period of authority are unclear, the Government risks unauthorized commitments and disputes over who could act.
CORs must stay inside the written delegation. If a COR tells a contractor to change price, delivery, scope, or technical requirements without CO approval, the Government may face ratification issues and the COR may face personal exposure.
The requirement to involve specialists matters in real life: legal, audit, engineering, cybersecurity, and other experts can prevent defective solicitations, weak surveillance, or noncompliant contract actions.
For contractors, the practical lesson is to confirm that instructions affecting contract terms come from the contracting officer or another properly authorized official, not just from a COR or program representative.
Official Regulatory Text
Contracting officers are responsible for ensuring performance of all necessary actions for effective contracting, ensuring compliance with the terms of the contract, and safeguarding the interests of the United States in its contractual relationships. In order to perform these responsibilities, contracting officers should be allowed wide latitude to exercise business judgment. Contracting officers shall- (a) Ensure that the requirements of 1.602-1 (b) have been met, and that sufficient funds are available for obligation; (b) Ensure that contractors receive impartial, fair, and equitable treatment; (c) Request and consider the advice of specialists in audit, law, engineering, information security, transportation, and other fields, as appropriate; and (d) Designate and authorize, in writing and in accordance with agency procedures, a contracting officer’s representative (COR) on all contracts and orders other than those that are firm-fixed price, and for firm-fixed-price contracts and orders as appropriate, unless the contracting officer retains and executes the COR duties. See 7.104 (e). COR- (1) Shall be a Government employee, unless otherwise authorized in agency regulations; (2) Shall be certified and maintain certification in accordance with the current Office of Management and Budget memorandum on the Federal Acquisition Certification for Contracting Officer Representatives (FAC-COR) guidance, or for DoD, in accordance with the current applicable DoD policy guidance; (3) Shall be qualified by training and experience commensurate with the responsibilities to be delegated in accordance with agency procedures; (4) May not be delegated responsibility to perform functions that have been delegated under 42.202 to a contract administration office, but may be assigned some duties at 42.302 by the contracting officer; (5) Has no authority to make any commitments or changes that affect price, quality, quantity, delivery, or other terms and conditions of the contract nor in any way direct the contractor or its subcontractors to operate in conflict with the contract terms and conditions; (6) Shall be nominated either by the requiring activity or in accordance with agency procedures; and (7) Shall be designated in writing, with copies furnished to the contractor and the contract administration office- (i) Specifying the extent of the COR’s authority to act on behalf of the contracting officer; (ii) Identifying the limitations on the COR’s authority; (iii) Specifying the period covered by the designation; (iv) Stating the authority is not redelegable; and (v) Stating that the COR may be personally liable for unauthorized acts.