Part 5101 - Federal Acquisition Regulation

System

(Revised 30 September 2022)

Subpart 5101.1 - Purpose, Authority, Issuance

5101.101 Purpose.

5101.105 Reserved.

5101.105-3 Copies.

5101.108 FAR conventions.

5101.108-1 Introduction of delegations matrix at Appendix GG and instructions for use.

5101.170 Peer reviews.

Subpart 5101.2 - Administration

5101.290 Routing documents and mailing addresses.

Subpart 5101.3 - Agency Acquisition Regulations

5101.301 Policy.

5101.303 Publication and codification.

5101.304 Agency control and compliance procedures.

5101.304-90 Army control and compliance.

Subpart 5101.4 - Deviations From the FAR

5101.402 Policy.

5101.403 Individual deviations.

5101.403-90 Deviation copy and control number.

5101.404 Class deviations.

Subpart 5101.5 - Agency and Public Participation

5101.501-2 Opportunity for public comments.

Subpart 5101.6 - Career Development, Contracting Authority and Responsibilities

5101.601 General.

5101.601-90 Department of the Army contracting authorities and responsibilities.
5101.602 Contracting Officers.

5101.602-1 Authority.

5101.602-1-90 Departmental review and approval.

5101.602-2 Responsibilities.

5101.602-2-90 Legal coordination.

5101.602-2-91 Contracting officers representative appointments.

5101.602-2-92 Ordering officer appointments.

5101.602-3 Ratification of unauthorized commitments.

5101.602-3-90 Ratification procedures.

5101.603 Selection, appointment, and termination of appointment for contracting officers.

5101.603-1 General.

5101.603-2 Selection.

5101.603-3 Appointment.

5101.603-3-90 Other individuals authorized to procure supplies and services on behalf of the Army.

5101.603-3-91 Restrictions.

5101.690 Procurement management review assistance.

5101.691 Management controls.

5101.692 Head of the contracting activity.

5101.693 Senior contracting official.

5101.694-90 Program or Project-specific Senior contracting official.

Subpart 5101.7 - Determinations and Findings

5101.707 Signatory authority.

Subpart 5101.90 - Nonappropriated Funds

5101.9001 Policy.

5101.9002 Contracting authority.

Subpart 5101.91 - Authority to Award and Administer Grants, Cooperative Agreements, Technology

Investment Agreements, and Other Transactions

5101.9101 Authority and responsibilities.
Subpart 5101.1 - Purpose, Authority, Issuance

5101.101 Purpose.

The Army Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (AFARS) implements and supplements the

Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), the Defense FAR Supplement (DFARS) and the DFARS

Procedures, Guidance and Information (PGI) to establish uniform policies for Army acquisition. It

does not restrict the exercise of good business judgment or stifle innovation.

5101.105 Reserved.

5101.105-3 Copies.

The AFARS is available electronically on Procurement.Army.mil (https://procurement.army.mil) at

https://spcs3.kc.army.mil/asaalt/procurement/AFARS/Home.aspx. The Office of the Deputy Assistant

Secretary of the Army (Procurement) (ODASA(P)), Procurement Policy Directorate, SAAL-PP will

issue notices of AFARS revisions to all senior contracting officials (SCOs).

5101.108 FAR conventions.

(b) Delegation of authority. Each authority is delegable within the contracting chain of authority

unless otherwise indicated by law, statute, or regulation. All delegations must reference the

applicable AFARS citation. Delegations that do not include expiration dates remain effective until a

higher authority supersedes or cancels them.

5101.108-1 Introduction of delegations matrix at Appendix GG and

instructions for use.

(b)(S-90) Delegations of certain procurement authorities are identified throughout the AFARS with a

pointer to a matrix, labeled Appendix GG. Appendix GG outlines all delegations of authority within

the FAR, DFARS and AFARS, and specifies whether the authority prohibits or allows for further

delegation. The Army level of authority identified in the matrix is the lowest level of delegation.

5101.170 Peer reviews.

(a) DoD peer reviews.

(1) The SCO will concur, in writing, on all solicitation and contract packages submitted for each

phase of any DoD peer review. For the first phase only, the SCO will send a copy of the written

concurrence to the DASA(P) (see 5101.290) and provide a copy to the head of the contracting

activity (HCA). See AFARS PGI 5101.170-2.

(i) In accordance with Defense Pricing and Contracting (DPC) Class Deviation 2019-O0010, Peer
Reviews of Contracts for Supplies and Services , except for procurements of major defense

acquisition programs above $1 billion for which the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and

Sustainment (USD(A&S)) is the milestone decision authority and USD(A&S) special interest

programs, the DASA(P) is responsible for conducting preaward peer reviews for competitive

procurements above $1 billion. See Appendix GG for further delegation.

(2) Contracting activities shall provide their rolling annual forecast of acquisitions that will be

subject to DoD peer reviews to the address at 5101.290(b)(2)(ii)(A) at the end of each quarter. See

5104.802(f)(4) for peer review forecast requirements. See AFARS PGI 5101.170-3.

(b) Component peer reviews.

(i) Army peer reviews. With the exception of acquisitions using sealed bidding procedures (see FAR

Part 14), a Solicitation Review Board (SRB) and a Contract Review Board (CRB) will approve all

procurements with an estimated value of $50 million or more including the award of task and

delivery orders. A CRB is required for contract modifications that increase total evaluated price or

otherwise increase scope. A CRB is not required for modifications that exercise an option, add

incremental funding, or make administrative changes. The SRB and CRB will be independent, multifunctional teams comprised of senior level experts, which will, at a minimum, include

representatives from the contracting activity, small business office, office of counsel, requirements

community, and in the case of noncompetitive actions, the advocate for competition. The same

members should participate in both the SRB and the CRB in order to ensure consistency.

(ii) Objective of Army peer reviews. The SRB/CRB will review and assess the presolicitation,

solicitation and contract award documents for consistency, sufficiency, compliance and application

of sound business practices. The SRB/CRB will verify that the procurement represents an overall

good value to the Government and appropriate obligation of taxpayer funds.

(iii) Resolution of comments. The SCO will establish procedures for resolving all SRB and CRB

comments.

(iv) Peer review statistics. Contracting activities will collect peer review statistics, to include annual

data on the number of SRB/CRB reviews conducted and waived, identification of any systemic issues

or trends, best practices, lessons learned, overall effectiveness of the process, and other data as

determined necessary.

(c) Peer Review Thresholds.

Table 1-1 designates the Army peer reviews, thresholds and approval authorities.

TABLE 1-1, Peer Reviews, Thresholds and Approval Authorities

Level Threshold Parameters Approval Authority

DPC $1 Billion or More Pre-award NonCompetitive

Director, Price, Cost

and Finance, DPC

(Note 1)
DPC

Actions designated by

USD(A&S) as

requiring peer review,

regardless of value

Pre-award NonCompetitive

Director, Price, Cost

and Finance, DPC

(Note 1)

DPC

$1 Billion or More

MDAPs for which

USD(A&S) is the MDA

Pre-award, Competitive

Director, Contract

Policy, DPC

(Note 1)

DPC

Actions designated by

USD(A&S) as

requiring peer review,

regardless of value

All Pre-award,

Competitive

Director, Contract

Policy, DPC

(Note 1)

Army $1 Billion or More Pre-award, Competitive

HCA Non-delegable,

Except DASA(P) for

Special Interest

Acquisitions

Army

$250 Million or More

but Less than $1

Billion

Pre-award, Competitive

and Non-Competitive

HCA, with authority to

delegate No Lower than

the SCO

Army

$50 Million or More

but Less than $250

Million

Pre-award, Competitive

and Non-Competitive

SCO, with authority to

delegate to No Lower

than the CoCO

Army Below $50 Million Pre-award, Competitive

and Non-Competitive

SCO or Designee

(Note 2)

Army $1 Billion or More

Independent

Management Review

Contracts for Services

DASA (P) or SSM;

without authority to

further delegate.

Army

$100 Million or More

but Less than $1

Billion

Independent

Management Review

Contracts for Services

HCA, with authority to

delegate to No Lower

than the SCO

Army

Procurements

identified as Special

Interest by the

DASA(P).

All Peer Reviews,

Special Interest

DASA(P), without power

to further delegate.

(Note 3)
Notes:

See DFARS 201.170. The contracting activity’s business clearance process (see 5115.406)

normally satisfies the oversight function of peer reviews for acquisitions below $50 million. If

the SCO determines, in accordance with a risk-based analysis, that a separate peer review is

necessary for an acquisition valued below $50 million, the SCO or designee shall conduct the

peer review consistent with the procedures set forth for Army peer reviews in this section.

Other Army peer reviews identified in 5101.170(b) are not required when the ODASA(P)

conducts a special interest peer review for a procurement.

(v) Independent Management Reviews (IMRs) (Postaward peer reviews) of contracts for services.

Independent Management Reviews shall be conducted if the base period is greater than one year,

the IMR takes place prior to the end of the second year of the base period of performance. If the

base period of performance is one year or less, the IMR occurs prior to the exercise of the second

option period.

(a) The ODASA(P) will conduct an Independent Management Review (IMR) for contracts for services

valued at $1 billion or more. The reviews will be conducted in accordance with AFARS PGI

5101.170-4(a).

(b) The HCA will conduct an IMR for contracts for services valued at $100 million or more but less

than $1 billion. See Appendix GG for further delegation. For HCA reviews, the HCA will provide the

Senior Services Manager a summary report. The summary report will address the independent

management review required elements in DoDI 5000.74 Defense Acquisition of Services and shall be

filed within PCF in accordance with AFARS PGI 5101.170-4(b); no later than 45 days after

completion of the review.

Subpart 5101.2 - Administration

5101.290 Routing documents and mailing addresses.

(a)(1) Contracting activities will obtain either head of the contracting activity (HCA) or, if delegated,

SCO concurrence on all procurement document packages submitted for Headquarters, Department

of the Army (HQDA) review, coordination, and/or approval. The SCO may not delegate this authority.

Procurement document packages will include all reviews and coordination completed prior to

submission to HQDA, including legal reviews. Unless otherwise specified in this regulation,

individual and class deviations to this AFARS provision are prohibited. Send document packages via

the HQDA Task Management Tool (TMT) to the ODASA(P) directorate groups associated with the

email addresses listed in 5101.290(b)(2)(ii)(C) (except as provided elsewhere in this regulation).

(2) The contracting officer shall include the contract type determination required by FAR

16.103(d)(1) and 5116.103(d)(1) in HQDA-level approval packages that reference contract type,

including the approvals required by FAR 6.304 and FAR 16.504(c)(1)(D)(1). If a written acquisition

plan is required for the associated contract action, include the acquisition plan in the submission

package and provide the acquisition plan citation in the applicable paragraph of the document

submitted for review. If a written acquisition plan is not required, include the contract type

determination from the contract file in the submission package.

(b) Frequently used addresses:
(1) For the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Procurement), use the following:

Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Procurement)

Attn: SAAL-ZP

103 Army Pentagon

Room 2D528

Washington, DC 20310-0103.

(2)(i) For the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Procurement), use the following:

Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Procurement)

usarmy.pentagon.hqda-asa-alt.list.zp-current-operations@mail.mil)

Zachary Taylor Building – 5th Floor

2530 Crystal Drive

Arlington, VA 22202.

The email addresses for the directorates appear in paragraph (2)(ii). Submit document packages

requiring HQDA review, coordination, and/or approval via the TMT.

(ii) Specify the directorate and email address within paragraph (2)(i) as follows:

(A) SAAL-ZP-PP Procurement Policy, usarmy.pentagon.hqda-asa-alt.list.saal-zp-pp@army.mil.

(B) SAAL-ZP-PS Procurement Support, usarmy.pentagon.hqda-asa-alt.list.saal-ps-staff@army.mil.

(C) SAAL-ZP-PS Procurement Support, usarmy.pentagon.hqda-asa-alt.list.saal-ps-staff@army.mil.

(D) SAAL-ZP-PE Procurement Systems, usarmy.pentagon.hqda-asa-alt.list.saal-zp-pe@armymil.

(E) SAAL-ZP-SSM Senior Services Manager, usarmy.pentagon.hqda-asa-alt.list.saal-zpssm@army.mil.

(3) For the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Financial Management and Comptroller),

use the following:

Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Financial Management and Comptroller)

109 Army Pentagon

Washington, DC 20310-0109.

(4) For the Office, Chief of Legislative Liaison, use the following:

The Office, Chief of Legislative Liaison (OCLL)

Attn: SALL-SPA
1600 Army Pentagon

Washington, DC 20310-1600.

(5) For the Chief, Procurement Fraud Branch, U.S. Army Legal Services Agency, use the following:

Chief, Procurement Fraud Branch

Contract and Fiscal Law Division

U.S. Army Legal Services Agency

9275 Gunston Road, BLDG 1450

Ft Belvoir, VA 22060-5546.

(6) For the Office of the Command Counsel, Headquarters, U.S. Army Materiel Command, use the

following:

Office of the Command Counsel

Headquarters U.S. Army Materiel Command

Attn: AMCCC

4400 Martin Road

Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898-5340.

(7) For the U.S. Army Contracting Command, use the following:

U.S. Army Contracting Command

ATTN: AMSCC

3334A Wells Road

Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898-5000.

(8) For the Directorate of Contracting, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, use the following:

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Directorate of Contracting

CECT-ZA

441 G Street, N.W.

Washington, DC 20314-1000.

(9) For the Chief, Army Power Procurement Office, U.S. Army Center for Public Works, use the

following:

Chief, Army Power Procurement Office
U.S. Army Center for Public Works (CECPW-C)

7701 Telegraph Road

Alexandria, VA 22315-3862.

Subpart 5101.3 - Agency Acquisition Regulations

5101.301 Policy.

(a) The Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Procurement) (DASA(P)) acts for the Assistant

Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology) in developing, coordinating, issuing

and maintaining the AFARS.

(b) SCOs will coordinate with the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army

(Procurement) (ODASA(P)) Procurement Policy Directorate, SAAL-PP, to publish proposed internal

acquisition regulations or instructions, policy letters, clause books, policies, procedures, clauses, or

forms in the Federal Register for public comment when required. (See FAR 1.301(b) and DFARS

201.301(b).) Contracting activities will format coordination packages in accordance with FAR 1.304,

DFARS 201.304, and 5101.304 and route them in accordance with 5101.290. SAAL-PP will assist the

contracting activity with preparing the proposed notice, forward it to the Federal Register, and

receive public comments. At the close of the public comment period, SAAL-PP will send all public

comments to the contracting activity for analysis. When the contracting activity completes its

analysis, it will –

(1) Send an updated request for deviation in accordance with 5101.402; or

(2) Send an updated request for approval, which does not involve a deviation, in accordance with

5101.304(1)(i); and

(3) Include the results of the publication and analysis under the heading “IV Collaterals.”

5101.303 Publication and codification.

(a)(i) The Code of Federal Regulations codifies the AFARS under chapter 51, in Title 48.

(ii) To the extent possible, number all AFARS text, whether implemental or supplemental, as if it

were implemental. Use supplemental numbering only when the text cannot be integrated intelligibly

with its FAR or DFARS counterpart.

(A) The AFARS implemental numbering sequence is the same as the FAR except–

(1) Insert the number “51” before the primary citation;

(2) Insert “0” if the primary citation is to a single digit part number; and

(3) When the text exceeds one paragraph, number subdivisions by skipping a unit in the FAR

1.105-2(b)(2) prescribed numbering sequence.
(B) The AFARS supplemental numbering sequence is the same as the FAR except –

(1) Insert the number “51” before the primary citation;

(2) Insert “0” if the primary citation is to a single digit part number;

(3) Add “90” to parts, subparts, sections, or subsections;

(4) Add “S-90” to subdivisions; and

(5) When the text exceeds one paragraph, number subdivisions without skipping a unit in the FAR

1.105-2(b)(2) prescribed numbering sequence.

(D) Examples of AFARS implemental and supplemental numbering are in Tables 1-1 and 1-2

respectively:

TABLE 1-1, AFARS IMPLEMENTAL NUMBERING

FAR AFARS

1 paragraph implementing FAR 19.501 19.501 5119.501

3 paragraphs implementing FAR 19.501 19.501

5119.501

(1)

(2)

(3)

1 paragraph implementing FAR

19.501(a) 19.501(a) 5119.501(a)

3 paragraphs implementing FAR

19.501(a) 19.501(a)

5119.501

(a)(i)

(ii)

(iii)

3 paragraphs implementing FAR

19.501(a)(1) 19.501(a)(1)

5119.501

(a)

(1)(A)

(B)

(C)

Further subdivisions follow the

prescribed sequence 19.501(a)(1)(i)(A)(1)(i) 5119.501(1)(i)(A)(1)(i)

TABLE 1-2, AFARS IMPLEMENTAL AND SUPPLEMENTAL NUMBERING

FAR Is Implemented As* Is Supplemented As
19 5119 5119.90

19.5 5119.5 5119.590

19.501 5119.501 5119.501-90

19.501-1 5119.501-1 5119.501-1-90

19.501-1(a) 5119.501-1(a) 5119.501-1(a)(S-90)

19.501-1(a)(1) 5119.501-1(a)(1) 5119.501-1(a)(1)(S-90)

*Assumes one AFARS paragraph implementing one FAR or DFARS paragraph.

(iii) Contracting activities will contact SAAL-PP to obtain numbers for acquisition instruction or

guidebook text and clauses.

(A) Chapter 51 reserves subsection numbers 90-99 for AFARS supplementary material with no FAR

or DFARS counterpart.

(1) Headquarters, Department of the Army (HQDA) reserves numbers 100-199 for the Army

Commands, the Army Service Component Commands, and the Direct Reporting Units with a head of

the contracting activity for unique implementing material with no counterpart in higher-level

regulations.

(2) HQDA reserves numbers 200 and above for Army Materiel Command and major subordinate

command unique implementing material with no counterpart in higher-level regulations.

(B) Chapter 51 reserves numbers 9000 and above for supplementary clauses approved for use Armywide, in specific commands, subordinate commands or contracting offices. (See 5152.101.)

5101.304 Agency control and compliance procedures.

5101.304-90 Army control and compliance.

(a) Definitions. As used in this section—

(1) “Acquisition instruction” means the set of governing local processes and procedures developed

and maintained by the head of each contracting activity.

(2) “Policy” means direction to contracting organizations implementing statute, executive order,

regulation, or other governing directives.

(3) “Procedure” means an outline of how to perform a process – who performs what action, what

sequence they perform the steps in the task, and the criteria (i.e., standard) they must meet to

accomplish the goal/end-state.
(4) “Process” means a high-level view or map of the tasks required by the policy described in

sufficient detail to direct the user to a desired outcome.

(b) All Army procurement policy is centralized under the ODASA(P), and ODASA(P) is the only Army

organization authorized to issue procurement policy.

(c) HQDA and Army contracting activities will not supplement the FAR, DFARS, or AFARS or issue

internal acquisition regulations or instructions except as provided in this section. HCAs, on a nondelegable basis, are responsible for procurement processes and procedures, to include processes

and procedures intended for issuance below the HCA level, within their contracting activity. These

shall be codified in an acquisition instruction. HCAs shall obtain DASA(P) approval for their baseline

acquisition instruction. HCAs are to maintain, review, and update their acquisition instruction as

necessary.

(1) Acquisition instructions require recurring certification by the Procurement Policy Directorate.

The Procurement Policy Directorate shall evaluate the integrity of the acquisition instruction to

ensure compliance with established procurement policies, procedures, and regulations. All

substantive issues shall be resolved prior to recertification of the acquisition instruction.

(2) The first recertification evaluation shall be conducted in fiscal year 2022 between the months of

January and March and every three years thereafter. HCAs shall submit their acquisition instruction

for review to the DASA(P) in accordance with 5101.290(b)(2)(ii)(A).

(3) Acquisition instructions will be submitted electronically for evaluation as follows:

ACC AI 1 January 2022 and every three years thereafter

MEDCOM AI 1 February 2022 and every three years thereafter

NGB AI 1 February 2022 and every three years thereafter

USACE AI 1 March 2022 and every three years thereafter

(d) HCAs must obtain prior DASA(P) approval for actions that require Under Secretary of Defense

(Acquisition and Sustainment ) approval. (See DFARS 201.304(1)(i) and AFARS Appendix FF,

Department of the Army Plan for Control of Nonstandard Clauses, for approval of nonstandard

clauses or provisions.)

(e) HCAs shall submit requests for new Army policy to the DASA(P) in accordance with

5101.290(b)(2)(ii)(A). The DASA(P) will coordinate with the HCAs to validate the need for new policy

and determine how the policy will be issued to the contracting enterprise.

Subpart 5101.4 - Deviations From the FAR

5101.402 Policy.

(2) The contracting officer will prepare all deviation requests in accordance with DFARS 201.402(2)

and follow the procedures at 5101.301(b) to publish the deviation in the Federal Register.
5101.403 Individual deviations.

(1) SCOs, after obtaining a legal review, approve individual deviations from the FAR, DFARS, DFARS

PGI, and AFARS other than those specified in DFARS 201.402(1) and DFARS 201.403(2).

5101.403-90 Deviation copy and control number.

The contracting activity will –

(a) Send one copy of each deviation to the address at 5101.290(b)(2)(ii)(A) at the time the approval

authority grants the deviation; and

(b) Assign a control number to each deviation.

5101.404 Class deviations.

(b)(ii) The The senior procurement executive approves class deviations from the FAR, DFARS,

DFARS PGI, and AFARS. This authority does not extend to deviations specified in DFARS 201.402(1)

and DFARS 201.403(2). See Appendix GG for further delegation.

Subpart 5101.5 - Agency and Public Participation

5101.501-2 Opportunity for public comments.

(b) Army contracting personnel may submit agency, organizational, or individual comments on FAR

and DFARS cases published in the Federal Register (see FAR 1.501-2(b)) in one of two ways:

(i) Official Army comments. Army contracting personnel may submit comments through their chain

of command to the Army Policy Member to the Defense Acquisition Regulations (DAR) Council in the

Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Procurement) Procurement Policy Directorate,

SAAL-PP. The DAR Council member will determine if the comments are consistent with the Deputy

Assistant Secretary of the Army (Procurement)’s official Army position and if they are, forward them

to the Director of the DAR Council for adjudication with public comments. If the comments are

inconsistent with the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Procurement)’s official Army position,

the DAR Council member will contact the commenter to address his or her comment within the

Army.

(ii) Comments as a private citizen. Army contracting personnel may submit comments as a private

citizen by following the instructions in the Federal Register notice. Private citizens must clearly state

that their comments represent a personal opinion rather than an official position. They may refer to

the extent of their relevant experience within the body of the comments. Private citizens will not

submit comments using Army letterhead or reference the Army in a signature block; however, they

may use Army email and fax, in accordance with Section 2-301(a)(2) of the Department of Defense

Joint Ethics Regulation, DoD 5500.7-R.
Subpart 5101.6 - Career Development, Contracting Authority

and Responsibilities

5101.601 General.

(1) Army contracting activities are listed in DFARS PGI 202.101.

5101.601-90 Department of the Army contracting authorities and responsibilities.

(a) General. Heads of the Contracting Activity (HCAs) have the authority to procure supplies and

services to support all customer requirements, unless such procurements fall within the scope of

unique contracting authorities assigned to another HCA as described in paragraph (b) below. This

framework supports Category Management (CM) reforms, and promotes habitual customer

relationships that leverage subject matter expertise to achieve greater contracting outcomes. The

list of unique contracting authorities set forth in paragraph (b) is not all-inclusive and will continue

to update as CM initiatives evolve. See AFARS PGI 5101.601-90-1 for Guidance for Alignment of

Contracting Activities to Categories.Additionally, the authorities described in paragraph (b), subparagraphs (2-4), do not apply to contingency requirement, and contracting operations outside the

continental United States and overseas.

(1) Delegation of any Army HCA contracting authority is limited to officials within the Department of

Army at the levels prescribed in Appendix GG.

(2) If a requiring activity presents a requirement in one of the designated commodity areas, to a

contracting office not listed in paragraph (b) of this section, that contracting office shall refer the

requiring activity to the designated HCA and coordinate with the designated HCA to determine

which organization will provide support. If an HCA other than the designated HCA retains that

requirement and executes a contract action for the designated commodity:

(A) The supporting HCA shall coordinate with the designated HCA as early as practicable in the

procurement planning process, to leverage the subject matter expertise of the designated HCA and

ensure the solicitations and contracts are properly structured.

(B) The supporting HCA should ensure the requisite contracting and technical/program personnel

are properly trained in the contract award and administration of the designated commodity.

(C) The supporting HCA and designated HCA shall maintain a record of the coordination for contract

award. The ODASA(P) will review the records during the Procurement Management Reviews.

(b) Assignment of Unique Contracting Authorities to Army HCAs. The assigned responsibilities are

as follows:

(1) The Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Procurement) has the following overarching

authorities and responsibilities:

(A) Serves as the Enterprise HCA for the Department of the Army.

(B) Serves as the principal advisor to the Army Senior Procurement Executive (SPE).
(C) Subject to the authority, direction, and control of the SPE, directs other Army HCAs in

connection with any procurement or procurement-related matter.

(D) Reviews all Senior Contracting Official (SCO) selections prior to SCO appointment by an Army

contracting activity’s HCA.

(E) Acts in the absence of another Army contracting activity’s specifically-designated HCA.

(F) Chairs the Army Contracting Enterprise Executive Committee.

(G) Appoints Program or Project-specific SCOs on a temporary basis within the responsible Army

contracting activity. The Program or Project-specific SCO focuses solely on the management of that

program’s contract action(s).

(2) The HCA for the U.S Army Materiel Command is responsible for awarding and administering the

following contract actions:

(A) Ammunition.

(B) Aviation and Missiles. [Army Contracting Command-Redstone Arsenal is the exclusive

contracting center for Army Fixed Wing and non-tethered lighter than air platform aircraft and

supporting services; and non-standard rotary wing aircraft].

(C) Combat and Tactical Vehicles.

(D) Construction related materials and services [Mission and Installation Contracting Command

(MICC) is the secondary contracting center; the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is the

primary contracting activity].

(E) Environmental services.

(F) Facility related materials and services [MICC is the primary contracting center; USACE is the

secondary contracting activity].

(G) Information Technology, to include: software, hardware, consulting, security, outsourcing, and

telecommunications.

(H) Transportation and Logistics Services, to include: logistics support services, transportation of

things, motor vehicles (non-combat), and transportation equipment. .

(3) The HCA for USACE is responsible for awarding and administering the following contract

actions:

(A) Architect-Engineer services. (See also 5136.601-90 for other Army contracting offices with

architect-engineer contracting authority).

(B) Civil works.

(C) Construction related materials and services [USACE is the primary contracting activity; MICC is

the secondary contracting center].

(D) Environmental services.

(E) Facility related materials and services [USACE is the secondary contracting activity; MICC is the
primary contracting center].

(F) Facilities purchase and lease.

(4) The HCA for the U.S Army Medical Command is responsible for awarding and administering the

following contract actions:

(A) Medical equipment accessories and supplies.

(B) Healthcare services.

5101.602 Contracting Officers.

5101.602-1 Authority.

5101.602-1-90 Departmental review and approval.

(a) At any time during the procurement process, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for

Procurement (DASA(P)) may designate a proposed contractual action as Special Interest, and direct

the responsible SCO or source selection authority to submit the proposed contractual action to the

Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology) (ASA(ALT)) for

review, notation, and/or approval.

(1) The SCO or source selection authority will provide any information, documents, and briefings

requested, and will not take, or permit anyone else to take, final action on the proposed contractual

action during the period of the DASA(P) review. The SCO shall coordinate all proposed major

decision points (e.g. Source Selection Authority appointments), with the DASA(P).

(2) The DASA(P) will customize the departmental review requirements on a case-by-case basis..

(3) In accordance with FAR 3.104-4(a), the ASA(ALT) has authorized personnel within the Office of

the DASA(P), the Office of the Army General Counsel, and other personnel designated by the

DASA(P) to receive full access to contractor bid or proposal information and source selection

information in connection with such review. The contracting officer, under SCO direction, shall

ensure the Virtual Contracting Enterprise Paperless Contract File contains all documents related to

the proposed contractual action. (See 5104.802 Contract files).

(b) The DASA(P), as Enterprise HCA, or other Army HCAs may appoint Program or Project-specific

SCOs in conjunction with this subpart. (See 5101.693-90)

5101.602-2 Responsibilities.

(a) Refer to 5132.7 for instructions with regard to ensuring funds are available.

5101.602-2-90 Legal coordination.

Contracting officers will obtain a legal review and consider counsel’s advice as follows:
(a) Include legal counsel as a member of the acquisition team (see FAR 1.102-3) throughout the

acquisition process;

(b) Obtain a legal review for proposed contracting actions in accordance with locally established

procedures and as otherwise required by law, regulation, or policy. It is not practicable to specify, in

the AFARS, an inclusive list of actions requiring legal review at each contracting activity. Instead,

counsel will routinely review a full range of acquisition-related actions that have potential legal

significance. SCOs will work with local chief counsels, or equivalent official, to develop specific legal

review protocols that are consistent with this provision.

(c) Obtain legal reviews on proposed actions to determine if the action is legally sufficient based on

statute, regulation, and policy, and request details and a recommended course of action to resolve

any insufficiency. Contracting officers will address and resolve counsel’s objections at the lowest

possible level. Contracting officers and counsel will elevate unresolved objections within the

acquisition and legal channels, as appropriate, and in exceptional cases, to the head of the

contracting activity (HCA).

(d) The contracting officer, under SCO direction, retains sole authority to determine matters that

relate to the exercise of business judgment.

5101.602-2-91 Contracting officers representative appointments.

(a) Contracting officers will appoint a properly trained contracting officer’s representative (COR)

upon contract award, consistent with DFARS 201.602-2. SCOs may specify additional training at

their discretion within their contracting activity. Contracting officers shall execute the COR

appointment in the DoD Procurement Integrated Enterprise Environment (PIEE) Joint Appointment

Module (JAM) no later than one business day after receipt of the contract in the Electronic Data

Access (EDA) system has been confirmed.

(b) Contracting officers will allow 45 calendar days after receipt of the procurement request (PR)

package for the requiring activity (RA) to satisfy all COR requirements. If, after the 45 days, a COR

has not been properly trained and nominated in PIEE JAM, contracting officers will cease further

action on the PR package and return it to the supported RA.

(c) Contracting officers will validate COR and ordering officer records every 12 months in

accordance with DFARS PGI 201.602-2(d)(vii) to ensure contractor compliance with the terms of the

contract. Contracting officers will document the review in the contract file.

5101.602-2-92 Ordering officer appointments.

(a) Policy. The official (see 5101.603-1) appointing an ordering officer will state in the appointment

letter that the ordering officer’s authority may not be delegated further (see 5153.303-2 for a sample

appointment letter).

(b) Appointment and termination authority. An appointing official may appoint an ordering officer,

pursuant to 5101.603-3-90(a) through (f), when the official determines that the appointment is

essential for the operation of the contracting mission. The purposes for which an appointing official

may appoint an ordering officer and references to limitations of their authority are –
(1) To make purchases using imprest funds (FAR 13.305);

(2) To make purchases using Standard Form 44 (FAR 13.306, DFARS 213.306);

(3) To place orders against indefinite delivery contracts awarded by contracting officers of the

Military Departments for the preparation for shipment, Government storage, and intra-city or intraarea movement of personal property, provided contract terms permit (see FAR subpart 47.2);

(4) To place Service Orders for Personal Property (DD Form 1164) against Commercial Warehousing

and Related Services for Household Goods contracts for military and civilian personnel subject to

the criteria and procedures prescribed in Chapter 2, DoD 4500.34-R, provided that no service order

will be in excess of $10,000; and

(5) To place orders against indefinite delivery contracts, in addition to those in (4), that contracting

officers award, as long as the contract terms permit and provided all orders placed are within

monetary limitations specified in the contract.

(c) Responsibilities of appointing authority.

(1) Training and orientation. The appointing authority will orient and instruct ordering officers

either personally or in writing about –

(i) The proper procedure(s) the appointing authority will authorize the ordering officer to use;

(ii) The standards of conduct for Army personnel prescribed in the Joint Ethics Regulation (DoD

5500.7-R) and the procurement integrity provisions at FAR 3.104; and

(iii) The preparation and submission of information for contract action reporting purposes.

(2) Surveillance. The appointing authority will provide technical supervision of ordering officers. At

least once each year, the appointing authority will examine ordering officer purchase documents and

records. Any individual designated to perform this review must be well qualified in the contracting

procedures that ordering officers use.

(i) Write inspection or review findings and include specific comments as to whether the ordering

officer is –

(A) Operating within the scope and limitations of authority delegated and FAR subpart 3.1;

(B) Maintaining the standards of conduct prescribed in DoD 5500.7-R;

(C) Engaging in improper practices, including but not limited to splitting purchase transactions to

avoid monetary limitations or delegating authority to others; and

(D) Submitting correct and timely information for reporting purposes.

(ii) Retain copies of inspection and review findings for one year in the ordering officer’s files and the

inspector’s or reviewer’s files.

(iii) If an appointing authority finds that an ordering officer is not properly performing assigned

duties or promptly correcting the deficiencies noted in inspections or reviews, the appointing

authority will terminate the ordering officer’s appointment.

(3) Termination.
(i) An ordering officer’s appointment will remain in effect until the ordering officer leaves his

position via reassignment or termination or the appointing authority revokes the appointment.

Appointing officials will not revoke an appointment retroactively.

(ii) Appointing officials will terminate appointments in writing except terminations that result when

a contract expires.

(d) Procedures. Appointing officials will –

(1) Appoint ordering officers by a letter of appointment substantially in the format at 5153.303-2, but

tailored to fit the circumstances of the appointment;

(2) Maintain the file of appointments and justification for the appointments;

(3) Require individuals appointed as ordering officers to acknowledge receipt of their letters of

appointment and termination in writing;

(4) Distribute appointment letters to ordering officers, imprest fund cashiers, disbursing officers and

other interested personnel as necessary;

(5) List the names of ordering officers appointed to place orders against the contracts in the

contract, or furnish copies of ordering officer appointment letters to contractors, imprest fund

cashiers, disbursing officers and other interested personnel; and

(6) Furnish copies of termination letters to imprest fund cashiers, disbursing officers and other

interested personnel.

5101.602-3 Ratification of unauthorized commitments.

(b) Policy.

(3) HCAs may ratify unauthorized commitments and may delegate this authority as specified in

Appendix GG.

5101.602-3-90 Ratification procedures.

(a) HCAs may ratify an unauthorized commitment. See Appendix GG for further delegation.

(b) The individual making the unauthorized commitment must send the following documentation, at

a minimum, to the cognizant ratifying authority:

(1) A signed statement describing the circumstances, the reason normal contracting procedures

were not followed, what bona fide Government requirement necessitated the unauthorized

commitment, the benefit received and its value, and any other pertinent facts.

(2) All other relevant documents, including orders, invoices or other evidence of the transaction.

(c) If the commander concurs that the unauthorized commitment should be ratified, the

documentation must be sent to the chief of the contracting office with an endorsement that –
(1) Verifies the accuracy and completeness of the documentation;

(2) Describes the measures taken to prevent a recurrence of unauthorized commitments, including a

description of any disciplinary action to be taken; and

(3) Provides a complete purchase description and funding for the ratifying contract.

(d) The chief of the contracting office will assign the action to an individual contracting officer who

will be responsible for –

(1) Reviewing the case and determining the adequacy of all facts, records, and documents and

obtaining any additional material required; and

(2) Preparing a summary of facts to include a recommendation as to whether the individual

responsible for approving the ratification (see 5101.602-3(b)) should ratify the transaction and

reasons for the recommendation. In a recommendation not to ratify, include an explanation as to

whether the contracting activity should process the transaction under FAR part 50 and DFARS part

250, Extraordinary Contractual Actions and the Safety Act or by means of the claims or disputes

process set forth in FAR subpart 33.2.

(e) Upon receipt and review of the complete file, the individual responsible for approving the

ratification may approve the ratification if he or she considers it to be in the best interest of the

Government, or may direct other disposition.

(f) HCAs must monitor compliance with this subsection, 5101.602-3-90, and take all necessary

corrective action.

5101.603 Selection, appointment, and termination of appointment for

contracting officers.

5101.603-1 General.

The Secretary of the Army or one of the following individuals may select, appoint, and terminate

contracting officers:

(1) The ASA(ALT).

(2) The DASA(P).

(3) The HCA. See Appendix GG for further delegation.

5101.603-2 Selection.

The HCA will establish criteria and procedures to ensure that prospective contracting officers with

authority to award or administer contracts for amounts above the simplified acquisition threshold,

have the knowledge and experience to effectively and efficiently support their customers and

successfully fulfill their fiduciary responsibilities as required by DFARS 201.603-2 and 10 U.S.C.

1724. The HCA shall follow the policy set forth in the Army Warranting Guide. The policy is available

on the Army Warranting Program tile on https://procurement.army.mil (PAM).
5101.603-3 Appointment.

(a) Appointing officials will utilize the Virtual Contracting Enterprise (VCE) Warrant Tool to appoint,

suspend, terminate and otherwise document and maintain a complete file for each contracting

officer. The file will include documentation of qualifications and the continuation of professional

proficiency. The appointing official will update the files in the VCE Warrant Tool upon any change in

the contracting officer’s authority, and will review the files no less than biennially to ensure

compliance with statutes and regulations.

5101.603-3-90 Other individuals authorized to procure supplies and services on behalf of the Army.

In addition to the ordering officers identified in AFARS 5101.602-2-92, a contracting officer or one of

the appointing officials identified in AFARS 5101.603-1 may designate individuals to procure

supplies or services on behalf of the Army as specified in paragraphs (a) through (f) in this

subsection. Individuals in paragraphs (a) through (c) will prepare and submit information for

reporting purposes to the supporting contracting office as specified by that office policy. Individuals

in (d) will report to the contracting office supporting the mobilization base.

(a) Contracting officers may authorize individuals to place calls under blanket purchase agreements.

(See FAR subpart 13.3, DFARS subpart 213.3, and subpart 5113.3.)

(b) Appointing officials may authorize Army aviators and masters of Army-owned or operated vessels

to use Standard Form 44 (see FAR 13.306 or provisions of Army Regulation 710-2 and Department

of the Army Pamphlet 710-2-2) for emergency purchases of supplies (e.g., fuels, oils, parts) and

services (e.g., mechanical services, hangar services, landing and docking fees and employment of

civilian guards or watchmen to safeguard Government property) under any of the following

conditions:

(1) Authorized flights or voyages during which mechanical or meteorological conditions prevent

obtaining required supplies and services from Government facilities.

(2) Conditions under which continuation of flight, voyage or mission would constitute a hazard to

safety or endanger public property.

(3) Conditions under which procurement of supplies and services from Government facilities would

interfere with approved flight plans or voyages.

(c) Appointing officials may issue the Governmentwide commercial purchase card to individuals to

use in accordance with FAR 13.301.

(d) Appointing officials may authorize individuals in Reserve Components to procure supplies or

services on behalf of the Army in the event of mobilization using Standard Form 44 and U.S. Army

Forces Command Mobilization and Deployment System, Volume III. Reserve Component unit

commanders may purchase over-the-counter type items not exceeding the micro-purchase threshold

per transaction. The commander will use Standard Form 44 when a Federal Mobilization Order,

requiring unit movement to a mobilization station or site, or where procurement support is not

readily available from a supporting installation. This temporary authority will expire upon

resumption of procurement support by the contracting office at the mobilization station or

supporting installation.
(e) Appointing officials may issue U.S. Government Travel Charge Cards to individuals for use on

official travel.

(f) Appointing officials may authorize individuals identified in Army Regulation 725-50 to order

supplies from General Services Administration Stores Depots using the Governmentwide commercial

purchase card procedures.

5101.603-3-91 Restrictions.

(a) Personnel in the 1101 job classification series will not be appointed or serve as contracting

officers. This requirement is not subject to an individual or class waiver.

(b) Commanders and others having administrative supervision over contracting officers must bear in

mind that actions exceeding the authority of a contracting officer are not binding on the

Government. Therefore, they will not direct, or otherwise exert influence, upon contracting officers

to take such actions.

5101.690 Procurement management review assistance.

(a) Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Procurement), Procurement

Insight/Oversight Directorate , manages the Procurement Management Review (PMR) Program to

perform oversight of Army contracting activities in accordance with Appendix CC.

(b) Once every 36 months, all HCAs will conduct PMRs for each of their contracting offices to ensure

compliance with, at a minimum, laws, policies, regulations, directives, FAR, DFARS, AFARS and

AFARS Appendix CC. HCAs will furnish copies of review reports to the HQDA PMR Team Leader at

the address at 5101.290(b)(2)(ii)(B) within 60 days of completing a review.

5101.691 Management controls.

See AFARS PGI 5101.691-1 for guidance on the Army Enterprise Audit Tracker.

Management controls within each contracting organization are an element of day-to-day operations.

Managers at all levels should refer to Appendix BB, Management Control Evaluation Checklist, to

evaluate their organization’s compliance with key management controls and to identify and correct

weaknesses. The list of questions in Appendix BB is not all-inclusive nor are managers required to

respond to all of them. Managers should tailor the list to include areas specific to each contracting

office, and should include the Areas of Special Interest, which the DASA(P) issues each fiscal year.

5101.692 Head of the contracting activity.

(a) HCAs will ensure that only contracting officers selected and appointed in accordance with

5101.603 enter into contracts on behalf of the Army.

(b) HCAs will appoint a SCO. When selecting the SCO, the HCA must comply with the requirements

of Department of Defense Instruction (DoDI) 5000.66 governing the selection of senior contracting
officials. Prior to appointing the SCO, the HCA shall coordinate the proposed SCO selection directly

with the Enterprise HCA.

(1) The HCA must assign to the SCO, or give him/her direct access to, the personnel and other

essential resources necessary to perform all the functions that the HCA delegates to him/her.

(2) The HCA may appoint Program or Project-specific SCOs on a temporary basis within the

responsible Army contracting activity. The Program or Project-specific SCO focuses solely on the

management of that program’s contract action(s). (See 5101.693-90)

(3) The HCA must notify in writing the addressee in 5101.290(b)(2)(i) when there is a newly

appointed SCO.

5101.693 Senior contracting official.

(1) A SCO, defined as a critical acquisition position in 10 U.S.C. 1735 and a key leadership position

in the DoDI 5000.66, must meet the additional position requirements listed in DoDI 5000.66, Table

1.

(2) SCOs will exercise procurement authority in accordance with the FAR and its supplements and

perform delegated HCA contracting authorities. Procurement authority is delegated by the HCA and

is not position dependent.

(3) The SCO, by virtue of the organizational position occupied, may execute command functions for

the contracting activity, but these functions are separate and distinct from procurement authority.

(4) SCOs will –

(i) Report directly to the HCA on all matters regarding procurement.

(ii) Be evaluated by the HCA for performance appraisals, as required by the DoDI 5000.66.

(iii) Minimize the potential for undue influence and protects contracting professionals from internal

or external pressure to perform improper actions.

5101.694-90 Program or Project-specific Senior contracting official.

(1) A Program or Project-specific SCO focuses solely on the management of that program’s or

project’s contract action(s). The appointment may be tailored to align with the risk or complexity,

and dollar value of the pertinent program or project. The Program or Project-specific SCO will

exercise procurement authority in accordance with the FAR and its supplements and perform

delegated HCA contracting authorities. Procurement authority is delegated by the HCA and is not

position dependent.

(2) Program or Project-specific SCOs may be appointed on a temporary basis, typically for the

duration of that contract action(s), within an Army contracting activity. The individual must meet the

position requirements listed in DoDI 5000.66.

(3) Program or Project-specific SCOs will –
(i) Report directly to the HCA on all matters regarding the pertinent contract action(s).

(ii) Have direct access to the personnel and other essential resources necessary to perform all

assigned functions.

Subpart 5101.7 - Determinations and Findings

5101.707 Signatory authority.

The head of the contracting activity or the SCO and the contracting officer will sign each Secretarial

determination request.

Subpart 5101.90 - Nonappropriated Funds

5101.9001 Policy.

DoD policy for contract actions using nonappropriated funds is in DoD Directive 4105.67. See Army

Regulation (AR) 215-1 and AR 215-4 for implementing policies and procedures for Army

nonappropriated fund acquisitions.

5101.9002 Contracting authority.

SCOs may designate appropriated fund contracting officers as nonappropriated fund contracting

officers. (See AR 215-4.)

Subpart 5101.91 - Authority to Award and Administer

Grants, Cooperative Agreements, Technology Investment

Agreements, and Other Transactions

5101.9101 Authority and responsibilities.

(a) Procedures governing grants, cooperative agreements, and technology investment agreements

are set forth in the DoD Grant and Agreement Regulations (DoDGAR), currently codified at Chapter

I, Subchapter C of Title 32, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and Chapter XI of Title 2, CFR (see

Department of Defense Directive Number 3210.06). In the absence of an Army supplement to the

DoDGAR this AFARS subpart provides a record of the Army’s implementation of 32 CFR 21.425 –

21.435.

(b) Procedures governing Other Transaction Authority are set forth at 10 U.S.C. section 2371b and

in the Other Transactions Guide for Prototype Projects, issued January 2017 by the Director for

Defense Procurement and Acquisition Policy (DPAP). In the absence of an Army supplement this
subpart provides a record of the Army’s implementation of 10 U.S.C section 2371b and the DPAP

guide.

(b)(1) Heads of contracting activities (HCAs) with grant and cooperative agreement responsibilities

are authorized to make and administer grant and cooperative agreement awards in accordance with

specific delegations of authority from the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and

Technology) (ASA(ALT)) and as otherwise authorized in 32 CFR 21.420(c).

(2) HCAs with other transaction responsibilities are authorized to make and administer other

transaction agreement awards in accordance with specific delegations of authority from the

ASA(ALT) and as otherwise authorized in 10 U.S.C. section 2371b.

(c) HCAs also are authorized to appoint grants officers and agreements officers and to broadly

manage their contracting activity’s functions related to assistance instruments.

(d) HCAs are responsible for grant and cooperative agreement awards made by their contracting

activity and shall supervise and establish and maintain internal policies and procedures for that

activity’s awards.

(e) HCAs shall utilize the Virtual Contracting Enterprise (VCE) Warrant Tool to appoint, suspend,

terminate and otherwise document and maintain a complete file for each grants and agreements

officer. The file will include documentation of qualifications and the continuation of professional

proficiency. The appointing official will update the files in the VCE Warrant Tool upon any change in

the grants and agreements officer’s authority, and will review the files no less than biennially to

ensure compliance with statutes and regulations.

The HCA shall follow the policy set forth in the Contracting Officer Warranting Program Guide. The

policy is available in the Warranting tile on https://procurement.army.mil (PAM) at

https://spcs3.kc.army.mil/asaalt/procurement/warrant/Home.aspx.