PART 1 –– FEDERAL ACQUISITION

REGULATIONS SYSTEM

 SUBPART 1.1 –– PURPOSE, AUTHORITY, ISSUANCE

 1.101 Purpose.

 201.104 Applicability.

 201.105-3 Copies.

 201.170 Peer reviews.

 SUBPART 1.2 — ADMINISTRATION

 1.201-1 The two councils.

 201.201-70 Maintenance of Procedures, Guidance, and Information.

 SUBPART 1.3 — AGENCY ACQUISITION REGULATIONS

 201.301 Policy.

 201.303 Publication and codification.

 201.304 Agency control and compliance procedures.

 SUBPART 1.4 –– DEVIATIONS FROM THE FAR

 201.403 Individual deviations.

 SUBPART 1.5 — AGENCY AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

 1.501-2 Opportunity for public comments.

 SUBPART 1.6 — CAREER DEVELOPMENT, CONTRACTING AUTHORITY, AND

RESPONSIBILITIES

 201.602-2 Responsibilities.

 1.602-3 Ratification of unauthorized commitments.

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

 1.603-1 General.

 1.603-1-90 Ordering officers.

 1.604 Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR).

 SUBPART 1.90 — PROCUREMENT OVERSIGHT
 1.9000 Review and approval of contract actions.

 1.9001 Procurement management reviews (PMR) and special interest reviews.

 1.9002 Contract document approval signature routing procedures.

SUBPART 1.1 –– PURPOSE, AUTHORITY, ISSUANCE

1.101 Purpose.

The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DARS)

establishes uniform DISA policies implementing and supplementing the Federal Acquisition

Regulation (FAR), the Defense FAR Supplement (DFARS), Title 10 of the United States Code and

other statutory authority, and applicable Department of Defense (DoD) directives and instructions.

The DARS is not a “stand alone” document and must be read in conjunction with the preceding

guidance.

201.104 Applicability.

The DARS applies to all acquisitions processed or managed by DISA, except where expressly

excluded. Policies/procedures of non-DISA mission partners are acceptable as long as they comply

with applicable laws and regulations. For example: Requirements office generated documents (e.g.,

acquisition plans, justifications and approvals) need not be in the DISA format, contain DISA

supplemental information, etc.

DARS acquisition and procurement process oversight policies are not applicable to external mission

partners.

201.105-3 Copies.

Copies of the DARS and associated acquisition policies and procedures are available electronically

via the DISA Acquisition Policy and Guidance web site: http://www.ditco.disa.mil/hq/aqinfo.asp.

201.170 Peer reviews.

(a) DoD peer reviews.

(1)(i) Preaward peer reviews for competitive procurements. Per Class Deviation 2021-O00107 ,

Defense Pricing and Contracting (DPC) will conduct preaward peer reviews for competitive

procurements with an estimated value of $1 billion or more for all procurements under major

defense acquisition programs for which the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and

Sustainment (USD(A&S)) is the milestone decision authority. Additionally, preaward peer reviews of

competitive procurements will be conducted for procurements designated by USD(A&S) as requiring

a peer review, regardless of value. DPC-led peer reviews may be requested for acquisitions valued

below the $1 billion threshold and will be conducted upon approval by the Director, Contract Policy.
DoD policy for peer reviews was established by the memorandum “Peer Reviews of Contracts for

Supplies and Services,” dated September 29, 2008, available at

https://www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/policy/policyvault/USA000820-08-DPAP.pdf .

(ii) Preaward peer reviews for noncompetitive procurements. Per Class Deviation 2021-O0007,

Preaward Peer Reviews will be conducted for DISA noncompetitive procurements valued at $1

billion or more or for any other contract action designated by the USD(A&S) as requiring a peer

review, regardless of value. DPC-led peer reviews may be requested for contract actions valued

below the $1 billion threshold and will be conducted upon approval by the Director, Price, Cost and

Finance.

(iii) Postaward peer reviews for acquisition of services valued at $1 billion or more. Per Class

Deviation 2021-O0007, DPC will not conduct postaward peer reviews for acquisitions of services

with a total estimated value greater than $1 billion as required by DFARS 201.170(a)(1)(iii).

(b) Component (DISA) peer reviews (if a DPC Peer Review is not conducted).

(1) Preaward peer reviews for competitive procurements valued at $500 million or more and

noncompetitive procurements valued at $500 million or more but less than $1 billion. The DISA

Contracting Peer Review/Independent Management Review Program establishes policy and

procedures for conducting peer reviews of all solicitations with a total estimated contract value

(including options) of $500 million or more.

(2) Preaward peer reviews for procurements valued below $500 million. CoCOs are encouraged to

request inter-DITCO and intra-DITCO pre-solicitation peer reviews below $500M. Inter-DITCO peer

reviews will be managed by PL22. Intra-DITCO peer reviews will be managed by the respective

CoCO and results will be provided to PL22 (for tracking the conduct of the review and trends).

(3) Postaward peer reviews of all contracts for services valued at less than $1 billion.

(S-90) Independent management reviews for contracts for services valued at $500 million or more.

The DISA Contracting Peer Review/Independent Management Review Program establishes policy

and procedures for conducting independent management reviews of all contracts for services with a

total estimated contract value (including options) of $500 million or more in accordance with section

808 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (Pub. L. 110-181).

(1) Objective. The objective of the DISA Contracting Peer Review/Independent Management Review

Program is to (1) ensure that contracting officer across the Procurement Services Directorate (PSD)

are implementing law, policy and regulations in a consistent and accurate manner; (2) improve the

quality of acquisition and contracting processes across DISA; and (3) share best practices and

lessons learned. The findings and recommendations of the peer reviews/independent management

reviews are advisory in nature, providing supplemental information to the contracting officer

regarding acquisition strategy, contract structure, format, content, and compliance. The procedures

are established in accordance with Class Deviation 2021-O0007 - Peer Reviews of Acquisitions for

Supplies and Services dated June 25, 2021.

(i) Pre-award Peer Reviews of solicitations shall be conducted for procurements ($500M or above,

but less than $1B) prior to issuance of the solicitation (pre-solicitation).

(ii) Independent Management Reviewsof contracts for services shall be conducted at the following

decision points:

(A) Mid-point of the initial (base) performance period if in excess of three years; and
(B) Prior to exercising the first option period of performance and every other option period

thereafter (e.g., OP1, OP3, OP5).

All peer review/independent management review documentation shall be marked as “Source

Selection Information – see FAR 2.101 and 3.104”.

Table 1-1 Peer Review/Independent Management Review Thresholds

Procurement Type Dollar Threshold * Reviewer

Preaward Competitive ≥$500M DISA

Preaward Competitive under major defense acquisition

programs when USD(A&S) is MDA ≥$1B DPC

Preaward Noncompetitive ≥$1B DPC

Preaward Noncompetitive ≥$500M to $1B DISA

Independent management reviews for contracts for

services ≥$500M DISA

*Note: See DARS 201.170 for additional reviews that may be accomplished under these dollar

thresholds.

(S-91) Peer Review Timelines/Procurement Action Lead Times (PALT). See DARS PGI.

(S-92) Waivers. If critical mission performance circumstances necessitate the request of a waiver, a

“Request for Peer Review/Independent Management Review Waiver” can be found at

https://www.ditco.disa.mil/hq/peerreview.asp .

(S-93) Procedures. See DARS PGI.

SUBPART 1.2 — ADMINISTRATION

1.201-1 The two councils.

(S-90) All FAR, DFARS, and DARS policy and procedures change requests to include template,

checklist, and corporate library shall be requested through the PL21 Policy and Procedures Mailbox,

disa.meade.PLD.mbx.pl21-policy-branch@mail.mil. The subject of the email shall provide the FAR,

DFARS, or DARS section, Template Name, Checklist Name, or Corporate Library and identify if the

change is Critical or Administrative.
201.201-70 Maintenance of Procedures, Guidance, and Information.

(S-90) The DISA PSD, PL21 Contract Policy Branch, is responsible for maintenance of the DARS ,

DARS PGI , Deskbooks, Guides, and Templates.

SUBPART 1.3 — AGENCY ACQUISITION REGULATIONS

201.301 Policy.

The DARS will be numbered in accordance with the method prescribed in DFARS Subpart 201.3

Agency Acquisition Regulations.

201.303 Publication and codification.

(a)(ii) To the extent practical all DARS text (whether implemental or supplemental) will be numbered

as if it were implemented in accordance with DFARS Subpart 201.303-Publication and Codification.

Supplemental numbering will only be used when the text cannot be integrated intelligibly with its

FAR or DFARS counterpart. DARS supplements shall parallel the FAR and/or DFARS, with the

exception that supplemental sections are numbered using 90 or (S-90). Parts, subparts, sections, or

subsections are supplemented by the addition of a number of 90 and up. Lower divisions are

supplemented by the addition of a number of (S-90).

(D) The table shown in DFARS Subpart 201.303(D), DFARS Numbering provides an example

of the numbering system. Sample Table with DARS Numbering below

Table 1- 2 DARS Numbering

FAR

DFARS

Implements

FAR As

DFARS Supplements

FAR As

DARS Supplements

DFARS As

19 219 219.70 219.70-90

19.5 219.5 219.570 219.570-90

19.501 219.501 219.501-70 219.501-70-90

19.501-1 219.501-1 219.501-1-70 219.501-1-70-90

19.501-1(a) 219.501-1(a) 219.501-1(a)(S-70) 219.501-19(a)(S-70)(S-90)
19.501-1(a)(1) 219.501-1(a)(1) 219.501-1(a)(1)(S-70) 219.501-1(a)(1)(S-70)(S-90)

(S-90) Sections under subparts will be enumerated using FAR or DFAR numbering conventions,

depending on whether the FAR or DFAR is being implemented or supplemented.

201.304 Agency control and compliance procedures.

(S-90) DISA PL21 shall review all DISA acquisition-related procedures (both mandatory and nonmandatory) that impact the Agency prior to implementation. The procedures are generally

implemented as DISA Acquisition Templates, Samples, Guides, and Deskbooks and referenced in the

appropriate part in the DARS. Appendix A contains a listing of all current templates, samples,

guides, and deskbooks. DISA PL21 facilitates implementation of all DISA Acquisition Documents.

DISA procurement and acquisition policy and guidance can be found at

http://www.ditco.disa.mil/hq/aqinfo.asp.

SUBPART 1.4 –– DEVIATIONS FROM THE FAR

201.403 Individual deviations.

(S-90) Appendix B contains the approved DISA Clause Control Plan and shall be followed for

approval of deviations and clauses other than those prescribed in the FAR and DFARS.

SUBPART 1.5 — AGENCY AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

1.501-2 Opportunity for public comments.

(S-90) Comments on proposed or interim rules published for public comment in the Federal Register

shall be submitted through DISA PL21, disa.meade.PLD.mbx.pl21-policy-branch@mail.mil to the

Head of the Contracting Activity (HCA).

SUBPART 1.6 — CAREER DEVELOPMENT, CONTRACTING

AUTHORITY, AND RESPONSIBILITIES

201.602-2 Responsibilities.

(d)(S-90) Policy. The contracting officer shall designate and manage Contracting Officer’s

Representatives (CORs) in accordance with the DoD and DISA COR Handbooks located at

https://www.ditco.disa.mil/hq/deskbooks.asp . The authority to designate CORs shall not be further

delegated.
(S-91) The contracting officer must designate the COR in the Joint Appointment Module ( JAM) as

part of the award process, inserting DISA specific instructions as applicable. The JAM module is

located at https://piee.eb.mil/ . Within JAM, a COR may self-nominate or the contracting officer may

appoint a COR.

(S-92) The mission partner may indicate on Enclosure 1, Requirements Checklist that a COR

appointment is not necessary because it meets the exemption criteria in DFARS PGI

201.602-2(d)(v)(A) (1) and (2). The contracting officer shall review the requirement to confirm the

criteria are met. The contracting officer may request additional information to support the

exemption, as necessary. Filing Enclosure 1, Requirements Checklist in the contract file meets the

requirement in DFARS PGI 201.602-2(d)(v)(A)(3) to document the file in writing.

(S-93) Contracting Officer responsibilities:

Electronic Document Management System (EDMS) Tab 52 shall contain a copy of the approved

designation letter from the JAM module.

A Technical Representative (TR) is distinctly different from a COR. A TR is not authorized to perform

contract administration functions and is generally located at a contractor’s facility to provide

program technical oversight. The program manager (see DARS Part 7 for definition) appoints the

TR. See DFARS 242.74 for TR procedures.

1.602-3 Ratification of unauthorized commitments.

(a) Definitions.

Ratifying Official . Ratifying Official as used here means the Senior Procurement Executive, (SPE) or

the Head of the Contracting Activity (HCA), as specified in (b)(2) below.

(b)(2) The ratifying official for all DISA unauthorized commitments (UC) of any dollar value and nonDISA UCs valued at or above $1M is the SPE. The ratifying official for all non-DISA UCs valued

below $1M is the HCA. Coordination of the ratification request shall flow from the individual that

made the unauthorized commitment as follows: 1) Cognizant contracting officer to prepare the

Determination and Findings portion of the Ratification Approval Form, 2) General Counsel for a legal

opinion, 3) DITCO HCO for review and concurrence and 4) PL22 for review and processing. PL22

will log the complete package into the PL22 Ratification Log, assign a tracking number, review the

package to provide any findings or comments to the contracting officer, and coordinate the final

package for submission to the ratifying official for approval. The CoCO will notify the HCA when an

UC has occurred, to include Center/Directorate/Division and D-Code, individual who committed the

UC, dollar value, and the general facts of the UC. The HCA will notify the cognizant

Center/Directorate SES(s).

(S-90) For all DISA requiring offices, the individual that made the UC serves as the Action Officer for

the ratification request and prepares the package using the PSD Request for Approval of

Unauthorized Commitment Form, to include documents specified to be provided to develop a

complete record of the UC, and prepares a DISA Form 9. If the UC was made by a non-DISA

employee, then the Form 9 will be prepared by the contract specialist or contracting officer.

The Ratification Approval Form, Ratification Instructions, DISA Form 9, Timelines for Processing

Ratification Packages, and Ratification Log are located in the DARS PGI 1.602-3.
(S-91) Timelines for Processing Ratification Packages can be found in DARS PGI 1.602-3(b)(2)(S-91)

1.603 Selection, appointment, and termination of appointment for

contracting officers.

1.603-1 General.

Authority for selection, appointment, and terminate an appointment for contracting officers is

delegated to the DISA Head of the Contracting Activity (HCA).

(S-90) The types of contracting officer appointments are described in Table 1-3:

Table 1- 3 Contracting Officer Appointments and Requirements

Type of

Appointment Amount TrainingQualifications

Assessment

Requirements

SF 1402

Statement

Communications

Management &

Control Activity

(CMCA)

$25K /

$100K CON 237 None

Contract authority

is limited to

$25,000 for any

contract action for

information

technology services

and equipment in

support of the US

Secret Service, the

Office of the

Secretary of

Defense, and Office

of Special Events.

During Presidential

Election years,

from 1 April

through 30

November, this

contract authority

is increased to

$100,000.

Termination

authority is limited

to the amount of

contract authority.
Closeout SAT DAWIA Level I

Contracting None

Contract authority

is limited to

contract closeout

actions up to the

Simplified

Acquisition

Threshold (SAT).

No termination

authority is

granted.

Networx/EIS SAT

DAWIA Level I

- Purchasing or

Contracting

None

Contract authority

is limited to placing

orders for prepriced items under

the Networx, EIS

and various BPA's

associated with the

NS2020 Program

for contract actions

up to the Simplified

Acquisition

Threshold (SAT).

Termination

authority is limited

to the amount of

contract authority.
White House

Communications

Agency (WHCA)

Varies up

to

$5M

DAWIA Level II

Contracting

Passing of 30

question

“Contracting

Officer

Appointment

Test”

Contract authority

is limited to

$xxx,xxx for any

contract action;

except, contract

authority is

$xxx,xxx for orders

issued against

existing

Government

contracts or

contracts

established under

FAR Part 8 and

Part 16 procedures.

No authority to

contract for

telecommunications

services that are

usage based,

including monthly

recurring charges,

or are subject to

regulatory tariffs is

included.

Termination

authority is limited

to the amount of

contract authority.

Limited

SAT,

$1M,

$5M,

$10M,

$25M

$50M

DAWIA Level II

- Contracting

Passing of 30

question

“Contracting

Officer

Appointment

Test”

Contract authority

is limited contract

actions up to the

Simplified

Acquisition

Threshold (SAT).

Termination

authority is limited

to the amount of

contract authority.

Or

Contract authority

is limited to

$xxx,xxx for any

contract action.

Termination

authority is limited

to the amount of

contract authority.
Limited

$100M,

$250M or

$500M

DAWIA Level II

- Contracting

Passing of 50

question

“Contracting

Officer

Appointment

Test””

Contract authority

is limited to

$xxx,xxx for any

contract action.

Termination

authority is limited

to the amount of

contract authority.

Unlimited Unlimited

DAWIA Level

III

- Contracting

Passing a

“Contracting

Officer

Appointment

Review Board”

and have

already passed

a “Contracting

Officer

Appointment

Test” (either

30, 40 or 50

questions; if

the applicant

has never

taken the

Contracting

Officer

Appointment

Test, the

applicant must

pass a 50-

question test)

No limitations.

(S-91) Waivers. The HCA may waive warrant requirements on a case-by-case basis.

(S-92) Type of Assessments. The types of assessments are described in Table 1-3 and below. It is the

responsibility of a candidate’s supervisory chain, CoCO and HCO to ensure a candidate is prepared

for each of the three requirements.

Table 1-4 Contracting Officer Assessment Requirements

Type of Assessment Required For

1. Contracting Officer Appointment Test All warrants; see Table 1-2 for

number of questions and exceptions

2. Contracting Officer Appointment Review Board Unlimited warrants

(S-93) Contracting Officer Appointment Procedures. The procedures for this section can be found at

https://disa.deps.mil/org/PL2/Pages/DITCORefs.aspx .
1.603-1-90 Ordering officers.

(a) Definitions.

Agency/Organization Program Coordinator (A/OPC). The A/OPC is an individual who has

responsibility for implementing, maintaining, monitoring, and overseeing GPC program under their

cognizance in accordance with governing statute, regulations, policies, and procedures.

(b) Authority to appoint or terminate DISA ordering officers with a purchase card threshold in

excess of the micro-purchase threshold is the DISA Agency/Organization Program Coordinator

(A/OPC). Prior to appointing the ordering officer in Procurement Integrated Enterprise

Environment/Joint Appointment Module (PIEE/JAM), the A/OPC will obtain concurrence from the

responsible HCO, whose aligned CoCOs provide contracting support to a DISA mission partner,

except as noted in 1.603-1-90(e)(1)(ii).

(1) Ordering officer appointments are limited to DISA personnel;

(2) Ordering officer authority is limited to $25,000 for fixed-price orders against existing contracts

(e.g. General Services Administration Federal Supply Schedules, Blanket Purchase Agreements, and

FedMall Contracts—excluding FedMall Market Place purchases) established under FAR Part 8 or

FAR Part 16 procedures. Orders are to fulfill mission essential requirements for supplies and

services and must comply with contract terms and conditions. Open market purchases are limited to

the micro-purchase threshold IAW FAR 2.101.

(3) Ordering officer authority shall not be further delegated;

(4) Orders placed by ordering officers shall use the Government-wide commercial purchase card

(GPC) for method of payment; and

(5) Ordering officers must complete all ordering officer and commercial purchase card training as

required in the DISA GPC Deskbook , submit a completed application, and coordinate with

organization’s Program Manager to input applicable line of accounting to fund purchases made

using the Ordering Officer commercial purchase card as method of payment.

(c) The appointing authority will instruct ordering officers in their Delegation of Procurement

Authority

(1) What procedures to use to place orders;

(2) The standards of conduct for DISA personnel prescribed in the Joint Ethics Regulation (DoD

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

(3) The preparation and submission of information for contract action reporting purposes; and

(4) The requirement for an annual submission of the OGE 450, Confidential Financial Disclosure

Report.

(d) Surveillance.

(1) Ordering officers, in excess of the micro-purchase threshold, will be subject to procurement

management reviews (PMR) as specified in DARS 1.9001, as well as reviews conducted by the DISA

Purchase Card (A/OPC);
(2) Ordering officers will retain copies of inspection and review findings in the ordering officer files;

and,

(3) If the 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.

(e) Termination. An ordering officer appointment will remain in effect until the ordering officer

leaves the position via reassignment or termination, or the appointing authority revokes the

appointment in PIEE/JAM, which notifies the ordering officer cardholder in the system.

(f) Ordering officer appointments.

(1) The appointing authority will:

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

appointment and termination in PIEE/JAM.

(ii) Review ordering officer applications and training certificates and reach out to the responsible

HCO and /or CoCO, whose aligned CoCOs provide contracting support to a DISA mission partner, to

obtain recommendations if ordering officer thresholds exceed the micro-purchase threshold;

(iii) Designate all DISA micro-purchase GPC cardholders as ordering officers for placing micropurchase threshold (MPT) fixed-price orders against existing contracts (e.g. General Services

Administration Federal Supply Schedules, Blanket Purchase Agreements, and FedMall

Contracts—excluding FedMall Market Place purchases); and

(iv) Maintain the file of appointments and justification for the appointments.

1.604 Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR).

(S-90) COR is the only approved functional title for individuals performing the designated duties and

responsibilities under this subpart in support of contract management.

Regardless of previous titles used, if an individual is performing the functions of a COR in support of

a DISA or non-DISA contract, their appropriate functional title is DISA COR (primary or alternate).

Contracting officers shall only use the title COR in their designation letters.

(S-91) All COR questions, issues, and concerns should be sent to the COR email address DISA Ft

Meade DITCO Mailbox COR .

(S-92) Procurement Integrated Enterprise Environment (PIEE) and DISA and DoD Handbook

(1) The DISA Requirements Office shall use JAM, within PIEE, for COR appointments

(2) All candidates and active CORs shall use the JAM and the Surveillance and Performance

Monitoring (SPM) module available at https://piee.eb.mil/

(3) DoD and DISA COR Handbooks are located at https://www.ditco.disa.mil/hq/cor/index.asp.
SUBPART 1.90 — PROCUREMENT OVERSIGHT

1.9000 Review and approval of contract actions.

(a) Definitions.

Contract Decision Authority (CDA) means the individuals delegated the authority to review and

approve contract actions and contract approvals.

Contract Approval means for competitive acquisitions conducted with or without discussions,

approval by the Contract Decision Authority (CDA) or Source Selection Authority (SSA) to authorize

the contracting officer to award a contract or order.

(b) Exclusions.

(1) An extension modification or contract award as a result of a protest.

(2) An order issued against an existing contract, BOA or BPA if:

(i) Prices have been established in the basic indefinite delivery contract, BOA or BPA;

(ii) All other terms and conditions have been established in the basic indefinite delivery contract,

BOA or BPA;

(iii) The basic contract, BOA or BPA was reviewed and found legally sufficient; and

(iv) There are no negotiations (i.e., no proposal, formal or informal, is necessary for the order to be

issued) involved in the award of the proposed order under the indefinite delivery contract, BOA or

BPA.

(3) The order is issued against a single award contract, BOA or BPA.

(4) Inquiries issued in accordance with the Inquiry/Quote/Order (IQO) Acquisition Deskbook .

However, Orders issued as a result of the inquiries, are not excluded from the contract review and

approval.

(5) Contract actions that solely provide incremental funding, incentive fee funding, award fee

funding, or other administrative contract modifications.

(6) Priced options that were previously established in the basic contract/order and that are exercised

in accordance with the established prices and terms and conditions of the contract/order.

(c) Policy, thresholds, and approvals.

Procurement actions are subject to various review levels and thresholds as set forth below.

Note: HCOs and CoCOs are accountable for procurement quality. HCOs and CoCOs will establish an

internal review, self-inspection program to review contract files not less than annually to ensure

quality standards are maintained for all procurement actions within their respective offices,

including simplified acquisitions. The HCO and/or CoCO is responsible for identifying the quality

control measures implemented for the DITCO in the Manager's Internal Control Program. The

results of the quality inspections will be provided to PL2 for trend analysis, training purposes, and
future PMRs.

(1) The objectives of the review and approval process are to ensure that:

(i) Contract actions effectively implement approved acquisition strategies;

(ii) Negotiations and contract actions result in fair and reasonable business arrangements;

(iii) Negotiations and contract actions are consistent with laws, regulations, and policies; and,

(iv) An independent review and assessment for the proposed contract action is accomplished.

(2) Contract actions meeting the contract value thresholds set in DARS PGI 1.9000(c)(2) shall not be

awarded without obtaining the required review approvals.

(d) General Counsel (GC)/Legal and Policy Compliance Reviews.

(1) Legal (GC) and Policy Compliance (PL22) reviews shall be obtained prior to submission to the

CDA/SSA.

(i) Legal and Policy Compliance review thresholds. PL8 (non-telecommunications): $10M for task

orders, $10M for supplies / hardware, and $6.5M for all other procurement actions; PLA, PL5, PL7

and PL8 (telecommunications): $6.5M for all procurement actions. PL6: $6.5M for Legal reviews, see

DARS PGI 1.9000(d)(5) for compliance reviews. All broad agency announcements (BAA) require legal

review.

(ii) Legal and Policy reviews of contracts and task orders using the trade-off evaluation method,

regardless of dollar value, are highly encouraged.

Legal and Policy reviews can be requested by a contracting officer, CoCO, HCO, or HCA at lower

dollar thresholds or for special interest procurements.

(2) At a minimum, the contracting officer must review the contract file/documentation prior to

requesting a legal and policy compliance review. Also, the contract file must be reviewed at least

one level above the contracting officer prior to requesting a Legal and Policy compliance review for

contract actions greater than or equal to $50M. The contracting officer may submit the request for

Legal and Policy compliance review only after all reviewer comments, if any, are resolved.

(3) Legal and Policy compliance reviews should be requested concurrently. Legal and Policy reviews

will be accomplished in four (4) business days. Additional business days may be required to review

substantial/numerous documents.

(i) When Legal or Policy reviews indicate non-compliance with laws, regulations or policies (e.g., a

Policy Finding or a GC legally insufficient finding), the contracting officer will revise the

procurement documents in collaboration with the assigned attorney-advisor and/or procurement

analyst. Legal will copy the CoCO on e-mails which notify a contracting officer of legally insufficient

findings, and Policy will copy the CoCO on e-mails which notify a contracting officer of compliance

review Findings. A procurement document shall not be released until legally insufficient or

compliance review Findings are adjudicated.

(ii) While changes are expected to be professionally resolved at the lowest possible level,

disagreements may be elevated above the contracting officer, through Section and Branch Chiefs to

the CoCO, the HCO, and ultimately to the HCA. Legal issues may be elevated to the Deputy General
Counsel (Acquisition & Procurement).

(4) Policy compliance (PL22) reviews --

(i) Requests for Policy compliance review shall be sent via email to the “ DISA Ft Meade PLD

Mailbox PL22 Policy Compliance Review ” group mailbox. The following standard subject line format

shall be used: “[insert Office Code (i.e., PLX)], [insert “Pre-Solicitation”, “Pre-Award” or “PostAward,” as appropriate] Policy Compliance Review Request, [insert solicitation,

contract/modification, or order/modification number].” Urgent requests for review must also include

“Expedite” in the subject line and shall be forwarded to the PL22 group mailbox by the CoCO.

Pertinent information needed to assist the PL22 Policy compliance reviewers should be included in

the body of the e-mail. For example, provide the EDMS folder ID number*, document

identifier/description, indicate if a policy compliance review was accomplished at a previous stage of

the procurement (and if so, the solicitation number), provide the estimated dollar value of the

procurement, etc. See Table 1-5 for a list of required documents. Documents may be submitted as

attachments to the email if not available in EDMS.

*Note: The EDMS folder identifier must be included.

(ii) In circumstances where the contracting officer finds it necessary to proceed with issuing a

solicitation or awarding a contract action prior to obtaining a PL22 Policy compliance review as

required by the DARS, the contracting officer shall obtain a written waiver from the CoCO. The

waiver shall be retained in the official contract file. Prior to requesting a waiver, the Contracting

Officer shall consider a targeted review of critical documents or portion of the contract file.

(iii) Each Policy review comment will be listed under one of the following categories: Observation,

Finding, Recommendation, or Commendation. Below are the definitions of each category:

(A) Observation: Comments and input on issues identified by the PL22 Analyst that do not meet the

definition of a Finding or do not warrant being documented as a Finding yet may need correction.

Observations may be accompanied by an actionable Recommendation. Examples include process

improvements, apparent oversights in supporting documentations or the contents of the contract

file, administrative errors related to grammar, punctuation, style, etc.

(B) Finding: Specific actions that contradict statutory, regulatory, or policy requirements, causing

the procurement to be deemed non-compliant with the FAR, DFARS, DARS, or DISA prescribed

policy or procedure. Findings shall include a cited reference and the Finding shall be resolved prior

to release of any related procurement documents. The compliance review issued by PL22

documenting the Finding and the documented disposition by the Contracting Officer shall be filed in

the contract file.

(C) Recommendation: Tangible action proposed by the Analyst to rectify a Finding identified by the

compliance review by either: (1) adjudicating the Finding in accordance with statute, regulation, or

policy or (2) establishing internal procedures to mitigate the likelihood of reoccurring deficiencies if

elimination of the Finding is not possible or practical.

(D) Commendation: Validated procedures, actions or examples with supportable documentation

which can generally been accepted as superior to other alternatives, or “standards” over-and-above

what is merely required.

(5) PL6 Reviews see DARS PGI 1.9000(d)(5).

(6) Legal (GC) reviews ---
(i) Definitions.

Legally Sufficient. Complies with the applicable laws, regulations and policy.

Legally Insufficient. Does not comply with the applicable laws, regulations and policy. Generally,

these will be accompanied by specific findings and potential alternatives to correct legal

deficiencies.

In addition, Legal may also express its business opinion/advice in support of its reviews beyond the

base legal sufficiency determinations above, to include advice on legal and business risks relative to

the best interests of the Agency. These opinions constitute advice for consideration of the DISA

acquisition team in which the GC is a partner.

(ii) Legal review comments or a statement that the procurement document has been reviewed and

found to be legally sufficient shall be placed in the contract file. The contracting officer is

responsible for assuring that all legal comments are adjudicated.

(iii) In circumstances where the contracting officer finds it necessary to proceed with issuing a

solicitation or awarding a contract action prior to obtaining a required legal review, the contracting

officer shall obtain a written waiver from the CoCO. The waiver shall be retained in the contract file.

The CoCO shall request an emergency/or quick turn-around legal review prior to approving a waiver.

Legal will not review solicitations and contract award actions that have been waived (i.e., after-thefact reviews).

(iv) DITCO-Pacific (PL7), DITCO-Scott Telecommunications Contracting Division (PL82), DITCOScott IT Contracting Division (PL83), and DITCO-Scott Emerging Technology, Special Interest

Contracts, and Pricing Division (PL84) shall obtain legal reviews from legal counsel located at

DITCO-Scott. DITCO-National Capital Region (PL6), DITCO-Europe (PL5), Defense Capabilities

Contracting Office (PLA), and WHCA shall obtain legal reviews from legal counsel located at DITCONCR.

(v) Requests for legal review from legal counsel located at DITCO-Scott shall be sent via email to the

“ DISA Scott AFB DITCO Mailbox Legal Office ” group mailbox. Requests for legal reviews from legal

counsel located at DITCO-NCR shall be sent via email to the “ DISA Ft Meade GC Mailbox

Acquisition Law Team” group mailbox. The following standard subject line format shall be used:

“[insert Office Code (i.e., PLX)], [insert “Pre-Solicitation”, “Pre-Award Contract Approval” or

“Contract Approval” as appropriate] Legal Review Request, [insert solicitation,

contract/modification, or order/modification number].” The contracting officer or specialist shall

provide legal counsel with all documents necessary to complete the review.

Table 1- 5 Minimum Documentation to Attach to Review Requests

( The minimum documentation required for reviews)

Type of

Review

Decision

Point Non-Competitive

Competitive

FAR Parts 12

and 15

Competitive

FAR Subparts

8.4 and 16.5
Pre-Solicitation

Prior to

Release of

Solicitation

All PreSolicitation

Documents

including then

Solicitation

All PreSolicitation

Documents

including the

Solicitation

All PreSolicitation

Documents

including the

Solicitation

Pre-Negotiation

Pre-PNMs and

Sole

Source PNMs

Not Applicable Not Applicable

Contract

Approval Prior to Award

Contract, Order

and

Post-PNM

RFP and

Evaluation

Documents (Legal

Only)

All Pre-Award

Documentation

including

Contract, Source

Selection

Decision

Document, Best

Value Trade- off

or LPTA

Evaluation

Summary (e.g.,

Selection

Recommendation

Document), RFP,

and Draft

Notification to

Unsuccessful

Offerors

All Pre-Award

Documentation

including Order,

Post-PNM, Best

Value Trade-off

or LPTA

Evaluation

Summary (e.g.,

Selection

Recommendation

Document), RFQ,

and Draft

Notification to

Unsuccessful

Offerors

(7) Classified procurement oversight.Classified procurements are not exempt from compliance

reviews. The Chief, Contract Operations Branch (PL22) shall be contacted to coordinate compliance

reviews. The contracting officer shall ensure contract documents are redacted, as necessary.

1.9001 Procurement management reviews (PMR) and special interest reviews.

(a) Chief, Contract Operations Branch (PL22) will establish and maintain DISA’s Procurement

Management Review (PMR) program, conduct Special Interest Reviews, and assist the Agency with

other reviews as appropriate. PMRs assist the Head of the Contracting Activity (HCA) and the DISA

Senior Procurement Executive, in evaluating DISA’s procurement processes, including the DISA

Purchase Card Program. PMRs also assist the CoCO and the HCO to improve the operational

efficiency and effectiveness of their contracting organizations. This is accomplished through the

assessment of internal management controls and acquisition policies and procedures. Additionally,

the results of the PMRs are used to assess the Agency’s ability to sustain external scrutiny such as

DoD Inspector General (DoDIG) Audits, General Accountability Office (GAO) Audits, external PMRs,

and other independent reviews.

(b)(i) PMRs are conducted at the four Defense Information Technology Contracting Organizations

(DITCO):

(1) DITCO-National Capital Region (NCR)

(2) DITCO-Europe
(3) DITCO-Pacific

(4) DITCO-Scott

(ii) Contract Management Reviews (CMR) are conducted at two external organizations:

(1) WHCA (White House Communications Agency)

(2) CMCA (Communications Management and Control Activity)

(c) PMRs and CMRs will be conducted IAW the PSD PMR Standard Operating Procedure. The HCA is

the final decision authority for PMR/CMR observations, findings and recommendations.

(d) Special Interest Reviews are conducted at the request of the HCA or the SPE. These reviews

assess specific aspects of the procurement process and/or operations, as requested.

1.9002 Contract document approval signature routing procedures.

Procedures are located in DARS PGI 1.9002.