CLC 222 — Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR)

A COR is an individual designated and authorized in writing by the contracting officer to perform specific technical or administrative functions (typically contract surveillance) on a contract. The designation states the extent and limits of the COR’s authority; it is not redelegable.

The contracting officer designates and authorizes the COR in writing, in accordance with agency procedures. A written letter of designation specifies the extent of the COR’s authority, identifies the limitations on that authority, states that the authority is not redelegable, and states that the COR may be personally liable for unauthorized acts.

A COR has no authority to make any commitments or changes that affect price, quality, quantity, delivery, or other terms and conditions of the contract. Only the contracting officer can modify the contract or direct changes.

No. The COR’s authority is not redelegable. The letter of designation must state that the authority is not redelegable.

Yes. The letter of designation states that the COR may be personally liable for unauthorized acts — for example, directing the contractor to perform work outside the scope of the contract.

The COR must maintain a file for each assigned contract that includes a copy of the contracting officer’s letter of designation and other documents describing the COR’s duties and responsibilities, plus records of actions taken in accordance with the delegation.

A COR (like any Government employee) may not participate personally and substantially in a particular matter — such as a contract — in which the COR, spouse, minor child, or an organization the COR is negotiating with for employment has a financial interest. Doing so violates 18 U.S.C. 208.

A Government employee may accept unsolicited gifts of $20 or less per source per occasion, provided the aggregate from that source does not exceed $50 in a calendar year. A single $20 gift is within the limit, but the COR should still avoid even the appearance of impropriety and decline if acceptance could raise questions.

Yes. CLC 222 was DAU’s legacy “Contracting Officer’s Representative” online course. DAU has since renumbered its COR training to COR 222. The underlying requirements for COR designation and authority remain governed by FAR 1.602-2 and DoD Instruction 5000.72 (DoD Standard for COR Certification).

Monitor and document contractor performance, inspect and accept or reject deliverables, recommend changes or remedies to the contracting officer, maintain the liaison relationship with the contractor and the contracting officer, and monitor the control and disposition of Government-furnished property. Every one of those duties stops short of changing the contract - only the contracting officer can do that.

Section G, Contract administration data. Under the uniform contract format at FAR 15.204-1, Table 15-1, Section G carries any required accounting and appropriation data and any required contract administration information or instructions other than those on the solicitation form.

Section F, Deliveries or performance. Section F specifies the requirements for time, place, and method of delivery or performance, which is the schedule the COR tracks against.

A basic agreement. It is not a contract: FAR 16.702(c) bars a basic agreement from citing appropriations, obligating funds, or stating or implying any agreement by the Government to place future contracts or orders.

A basic ordering agreement (BOA). Like a basic agreement, a BOA is not a contract; each order becomes a binding contract at the point the agreement specifies, such as issuance of the order or failure to reject it within a stated number of days.

False. That describes a task order. FAR 2.101 defines a delivery order as an order for supplies and a task order as an order for services, and FAR 16.501-1 draws the same line between a delivery-order contract (supplies) and a task-order contract (services).

Talk to the contracting officer. Only contracting officers acting within the scope of their authority may execute contract modifications; other Government personnel must not execute modifications, act so as to make the contractor believe they can bind the Government, or direct or encourage the contractor to perform work that should be the subject of a modification.

Outside the general scope of the contract. The Changes clause lets the contracting officer order changes only within the general scope of the contract, so a change beyond that scope cannot be imposed under the clause and is treated as a breach rather than a contract change. Cardinal change is a term from case law, not a defined FAR term; the FAR anchor is the general-scope limit in FAR 43.201(a) and in the Changes clause itself.

Writing the technical evaluation and the independent cost estimate that support the negotiation. The COR supports the negotiation on request; the contracting officer conducts it and signs the modification.

A verbal agreement between Government personnel and the contractor to perform additional work without a written change order and without additional funding. A constructive change is Government conduct - actions, inactions, or written or oral communications - that the contractor reasonably regards as a change to the contract but that was never identified as a change in writing and signed by the contracting officer.

Ambiguous or inconsistent contract requirements, improper technical direction from Government personnel, and Government-caused delay or interference. All three are Government conduct that effects a change the contracting officer never issued in writing, which is exactly what FAR 43.102(a) forbids Government personnel other than the contracting officer from doing.

Constructive change. The contractor is required to notify the Government in writing as soon as possible so the Government can confirm the change and plan its funding, countermand it, or state that no change occurred.

True. The COR's core duty is to monitor performance against the terms, conditions, and specifications of the contract as awarded and as modified, so the COR surveillance file must hold the signed contract and every modification.

True. FAR 4.1003 requires separate line items for deliverables that are separately identifiable, carry a single unit price or total price, cite a single accounting classification, have a separate delivery schedule, destination, period or place of performance, and are a single contract pricing type.

All of them - the proposed technical approach, the proposed travel including locations and number of trips, and the proposed labor hours and labor categories. Those reviews are the independent cost estimate and technical evaluation the COR provides to the contracting officer, who forwards or approves them.

Keep monitoring. The COR coordinates with the contractor and the contracting officer to resolve issues and monitor corrective actions, and continues verifying that the contractor performs in accordance with the contract as changed.

False. The COR may clarify technical requirements, but only without making or agreeing to changes. A real disagreement about what the contract requires goes to the contracting officer, who is the only person who can direct a change or resolve it as a dispute.

Make negotiated equitable adjustments resulting from the issuance of a change order, definitize letter contracts, and reflect other agreements of the parties modifying the terms of the contract. It is signed by both the contractor and the contracting officer.

A unilateral modification is signed only by the contracting officer. It is used, for example, to make administrative changes, issue change orders, make changes authorized by clauses other than a changes clause (such as the Property, Options, or Suspension of Work clause), and issue termination notices.

True. FAR 2.101 defines an option as a unilateral right in a contract by which, for a specified time, the Government may elect to purchase additional supplies or services called for by the contract, or may elect to extend the term of the contract. Exercising an option is a unilateral modification, and the contracting officer must give the contractor written notice within the period the contract specifies.

No. Under DFARS 201.602-2(d)(1) a COR must be an employee, military or civilian, of the U.S. Government, a foreign government, or a NATO or coalition partner, and in no case may contractor personnel serve as CORs.

DFARS 252.201-7000, Contracting Officer's Representative.

Types A, B, and C, decided by the nature and risk of the requirement. Type A is fixed-price without incentives and low performance risk, where COR responsibilities are generally limited to minimal technical and administrative contract surveillance. Type B is everything other than Types A and C - fixed-price with incentives, fixed-price with other than low performance risk, and other than fixed-price contracts such as cost-type, T&M, and labor-hour. Type C is a unique requirement that needs higher education or specialized training beyond Type B, for example environmental remediation, major weapon systems, or medical, dental, or veterinary services.

A minimum of 8 hours for a Type A COR and 16 hours for a Type B COR, either every 3 years or before assuming COR responsibilities if the individual has not served as a COR within the previous 24 months. Component-provided ethics training is annual for designated OGE Form 450 filers and CTIP training is every 3 years.

At a minimum, and as applicable to the responsibilities designated: the COR letter of designation from the contracting officer; the signed contract and modifications; the quality assurance surveillance plan or other performance surveillance plan; written communications with the contractor and the contracting officer; trip reports; documentation of telephone conversations and meetings; surveillance documents; invoice and payment documentation; and the documentation needed to record, evaluate, and report the contractor's performance.

The head of the contracting activity, unless the agency designates a higher-level official. The authority may be delegated in accordance with agency procedures, but in no case below the level of chief of the contracting office. Ratification is only available when the Government got a benefit, the price is fair and reasonable, the contracting officer recommends payment and legal counsel concurs, and funds were available both then and now.

No. The COR must not direct or supervise contractor employees, interfere with the manner in which the contractor assigns work, or interfere with the contractor's relations with organized labor. The COR monitors the result the contract requires, not how the contractor staffs and manages the work.

Refer the request to the contracting officer. The COR has no authority to authorize release of contract information; that referral is a listed COR responsibility under the DoD standard.