FAR 42.201—Contract administration responsibilities.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 42.201 explains how contract administration responsibilities are assigned and carried out once a contract has been placed under a contract administration office (CAO). It tells the CAO to perform the contract administration functions listed in FAR 42.302(a) to the extent they apply to the contract, except for any functions specifically withheld, and it limits the CAO’s authority to perform the functions in FAR 42.302(b) unless the contracting officer specifically authorizes them. The section also requires the CAO to request supporting contract administration under FAR 42.202(e) and (f) when needed, which ties this provision to interagency or specialized support arrangements. Finally, it notes that the Defense Contract Management Agency and other agencies provide a broad range of contract administration and support services. In practice, this section is about who does the post-award administrative work, what tasks are automatic versus delegated, and how agencies coordinate when additional support is necessary.
Key Rules
CAO performs assigned functions
For each contract assigned to it, the CAO must perform the applicable contract administration functions listed in FAR 42.302(a). This duty applies only to the extent those functions fit the contract and only if they have not been specifically withheld.
Withheld functions are excluded
If a function has been specifically withheld from the CAO, the CAO may not perform it. This preserves the contracting officer’s control over sensitive or reserved administration actions.
Extra functions need authorization
The functions listed in FAR 42.302(b) are not automatically within the CAO’s authority. The CAO may perform them only when and to the extent the contracting officer specifically authorizes them.
Support must be requested when required
When supporting contract administration is needed under FAR 42.202(e) or (f), the CAO must request that support. This ensures the administering office obtains needed assistance rather than assuming authority it does not have.
Agency support services are available
The rule recognizes that DCMA and other agencies provide a wide range of contract administration and support services. This reflects the practical use of specialized administrative support across agencies and contract types.
Responsibilities
Contract Administration Office (CAO)
Perform the applicable FAR 42.302(a) contract administration functions for assigned contracts, but only to the extent they apply and are not specifically withheld. Request supporting contract administration under FAR 42.202(e) and (f) when required.
Contracting Officer
Withhold any contract administration functions that should not be delegated to the CAO, and specifically authorize any FAR 42.302(b) functions the CAO may perform. Determine when supporting contract administration is needed and direct the appropriate delegation or support arrangement.
Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) and other agencies
Provide contract administration and support services as available and appropriate, helping administer contracts when assigned or requested under the FAR framework.
Practical Implications
This section is a delegation rule: the CAO does not have unlimited post-award authority, so both the scope of assigned functions and any withheld functions must be clear.
Contracting officers should be explicit about what is withheld and what is specially authorized, because ambiguity can lead to unauthorized administration actions or missed oversight tasks.
Contractors should know which office is actually responsible for administration issues, since the CAO may handle many day-to-day matters but not every function.
A common pitfall is assuming that because a function appears in FAR 42.302, the CAO can always do it; subsection (b) functions require specific contracting officer authorization.
When specialized support is needed, the administration office should request it rather than improvise, which helps ensure proper coordination, accountability, and compliance with agency procedures.
Official Regulatory Text
(a) For each contract assigned for administration, the contract administration office (CAO) (see 2.101 ) shall- (1) Perform the functions listed in 42.302 (a) to the extent that they apply to the contract, except for the functions specifically withheld; (2) Perform the functions listed in 42.302 (b) only when and to the extent specifically authorized by the contracting officer; and (3) Request supporting contract administration under 42.202 (e) and (f) when it is required. (b) The Defense Contract Management Agency and other agencies offer a wide variety of contract administration and support services.