# Presentation: 748379

## NASA Johnson Space Center

- Contracting Officer
- and
- Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative

## Privity of Contract

**	****NASA****	****Prime Contractor****	****Subcontractor**

- Direct Relationship
*Contractor’s Staff*

- 	No Contractual or Direct Relationship

- Direct Relationship
*CO and COTR*

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## Contracting OfficerWarranted  (FAR 1.603-2)

- Qualifications:
**Baccalaureate Degree from Accredited Institution**
**24 semester hours of business related courses**
**Experience in Government contracting and administration**
**Knowledge of acquisition policies and procedures**
**Specialized knowledge in assigned contracting field**
**Completion of acquisition training courses**

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## Contracting Officer Responsibilities

- General responsibilities
**Lead the acquisition team to ensure **_**performance**_** of all necessary actions for effective contracting**
**Ensure **_**compliance**_** with the terms of the contract**
**Sign contracts and modifications (**_**bind**_** the Govt.)**
**Negotiate in good faith**
**Safeguard the interests of the United States in its contractual relationships**

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## Chain of Authority: Contracting Officer to COTR

- _Only_ the Cognizant Contracting Officer or their superior may delegate authority to a COTR
- Delegation must be to an individual
- Delegation must be in writing
- COTR may be personally liable for unauthorized commitments
***NASA FAR Supplement (NFS) 1801.670****** ***

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## COTR Qualifications and Position

**Qualifications:**
**Subject matter expert**
**Mandatory COTR training **
**Refresher training annually**
**Communicator and problem solver**** **
**Position:**
**Act as the contractor’s primary liaison with the Government**

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## COTR Responsibilities Overview

**Help the contractor interpret technical requirements**
**Recommend changes to the Contracting Officer**
**Monitor and evaluate contractor performance**
**Review invoices**
**Recommend corrective actions on deficiencies**
**Inspect and accept deliverables**

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## Duties of the COTR

**Assist the Contracting Officer**
- Pre-award
- Draft  Statement of Work
- Provide Independent Government Estimates
- Assist in evaluating technical proposals
- Determine degree of contractor risk
- Develop the contract surveillance plan; tailor to contractor’s proposal/approach after award

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## Duties of the COTR, continued

**Assist the Contracting Officer**
-  Post-Award
**Support the Post-Award Orientation Conference **
**Recommend contract changes as needed.**
**Recommend Consideration  **
**Waivers, Deviations, and Engineering Change Proposals**
**Review technical qualifications of proposed substitute key personnel**
**Oversee Government-furnished property**

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## Duties of the COTR, continued

**Act as the contractor’s primary liaison with the Government**
**Provide Technical Direction  ****	****	**
**Provide Technical Clarifications of the SOW  ****	**
**Manage Tasking and Technical Instructions (TIs)**

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## Monitor contractor performance
Review Contractor Progress Reports 
Monitor Cost vs. Progress 
Review deliverables for acceptance
Recommend Corrective Action in the event of contractor deficiencies
Prepare Reports on Contractor Performance 

- Review Contractor Progress Reports
- Monitor Cost vs. Progress
- Review deliverables for acceptance
- Recommend Corrective Action in the event of contractor deficiencies
- Prepare Reports on Contractor Performance

- Duties of the COTR, continued

- COTR_JSC_WSTF_04/2006

## COTR Critical Objectives

**Successful COTRs:**
**Understand the concept of a contract**
**Understand the chain of contracting authority**
**Understand the statutory and regulatory framework of Federal acquisition**
**Understand the acquisition process**
**Understand their roles and responsibilities and how to execute them**

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## COTR Limitation of Authority

**The COTR never has the authority to take any action, directly or indirectly,  that could change the following:**
**Price, cost, or fee**
**Quantities to be offered for acceptance**
**Quality, beyond what is specifically called for in the Statement of Work or clauses**
**Scope of contract**
**Delivery schedule**

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## COTR Limitation of Authority, continued

**Further, the COTR may **_**not**_**:**
- Promise additional work to the contractor
- Disclose proprietary or sensitive information on pending procurements
- Make statements to contractor that could be misinterpreted

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## Do’s for the COTR

**What the COTR Should Do:**
**Identify what needs to be changed to meet the Government's requirements**
**Prepare SOW for the modification**
**Estimate funding required for contractor to implement modification**
**Determine availability of funds**
**Coordinate with CO**
**Review contractor cost proposal and prepare technical evaluation**

- COTR_JSC_WSTF_04/2006

## Don’ts for the COTR

**What the COTR Should Not Do**:
- Direct the contractor to make a modification
- Act in a way that leads the contractor to believe the COR is authorized to direct a contract modification
- Encourage the contractor to do work beyond the scope of the contract

- COTR_JSC_WSTF_04/2006