1. Contracting Officer Podcast Slides
Knowledge & Insights From Contracting Officers

2. What is a Contracting Officer?
Episode 007
What is a Contracting Officer?
Original Air Date: December 29, 2014
Hosts: Kevin Jans & Paul Schauer

3. Formatting notes
Hyperlinks: Blue font indicates hyperlinks – presentation must be in ‘Slide Show’ mode to activate the link
Red bold font indicates a point of emphasis
Green bold font indicates CO’s personal comment or perspective

4. Overview What is a Contracting Officer?
How does one become a Contracting Officer?
Different terms and titles for a Contracting Officer

5. When does the Contracting Officer happen?
Acquisition Time Zones
(from Podcast Episode 003)
Requirements Zone
Market Research Zone
RFP Zone (Proposal zone)
Source Selection Zone
Execution Time Zones
(from Podcast Episode 084)
Kick Off Zone
Performance Zone
Re-compete Zone
Wrap-up Zone

6. What is a Contracting Officer?
Short Answer: Someone who spends our tax dollars
Constitutionally authorized to buy goods and services for the US Government
Long Answer: A Contracting Officer is someone who awards, administers, modifies and terminates contracts on behalf of the US Government
See FAR – Contracting Officers
Holds purchasing authority delegated by the Head of the Agency

7. What does a Contracting Officer really do?
FAR (b) – Authority
Ensures that all requirements of law, executive orders, regulations, and all other applicable procedures, including clearances and approvals, have been met
FAR – Responsibilities
In order to perform these responsibilities, contracting officers should be allowed wide latitude to exercise business judgment.

8. What does a Contracting Officer really do?
Follow the rules (ie. KNOW the rules)
Exercise business judgment
Really, it’s a thinking-person’s job –
Study the problem
Learn and know the applicable laws, policies, regulations
Decide the best course of action to solve the problem

9. How does one become a Contracting Officer?
Appointed by Agency Head or designee (Agency’s senior contracting official)
Not necessarily transferrable to other Agencies
Must have requisite experience, training and education to be appointed
At appointment, the CO receives a warrant to execute contracts
Warrant describes ‘limit’ of purchasing authority, if any
Warrant Board – Panel of experts that review warrant applications, interview the applicants, and determine whether an applicant should receive a warrant

10. How does one become a Contracting Officer?
Process varies from agency to agency – most are very similar, but there are distinctions
Contracting Officers are all different – there is no ‘blanket’ standard of experience or skills – each agency establishes its own standards of delegation of authority
Typically, the first warrant is limited to the SAT – Simplified Acquisition Threshold
After sufficient time and experience, warrant thresholds gradually increase to ‘unlimited’
Constitutionally authorized to spend US Government (ie. taxpayer) money

11. Key Terms (Types of CO) Procuring Contracting Officer (PCO)
Pre-award – Soliciting and Procuring (buying) the good or service
Administrative Contracting Officer (ACO)
Post-award – Receives delegation to administer contract after award
Terminating Contracting Officer (TCO)
Post-award – Processes the termination (either for default or Government convenience)

12. Key Terms (Types of CO) TCO –
Terminations are not easy, not many COs perform terminations
Specialized skill
“KO”
Means “Contracting Officer,” but spelled differently to differentiate from “Commanding Officer” (military position)
Contract Specialist – Contract Professional that is not currently warranted to sign

13. Other Purchasing Authority
Not everyone with authority to buy government supplies is a warranted CO
Micro-purchase (aka Government Purchase Card, or GPC)
Currently up to $3000 per purchase
Intended to simplify and expedite the acquisition process
Reduces overhead and administrative burdens

14. Summary
The FAR definition of a Contracting Officer – possesses delegated authority to spend government (taxpayer) money
How COs are appointed – differs by agency
Different terms and functions of a CO
Other Purchasing Authority (micro-purchase – does not require a warrant)

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