2901.603-72 - Responsibility of other Government personnel.

Standard Number: 2901.603-72
Standard Title: Responsibility of other Government personnel.
SubPart Number: 2901.6
SubPart Title: Contracting Authority and Responsibilities

(a) Responsibility for the decision of what to buy and when to buy rests with program and certain staff offices and the head of the agency or designee. Responsibility for determining how to buy, the conduct of the buying process, and execution of the contract rests with the contracting officer.
(b) Personnel responsible for making decisions to buy should maintain a close and continuous relationship with their acquisition activity to ensure that acquisition personnel are made aware of contemplated acquisition actions. This will be mutually beneficial in terms of better planning for acquisition action and more timely, efficient and economical acquisition.
(c) Personnel not delegated contracting authority may not commit the Government, formally or informally, to any type of contractual obligation. However, program personnel who must use the contracting process to accomplish their programs, must support the contracting officer in ensuring that:
(1) Requirements are clearly defined and specified;
(2) Competitive sources are solicited, evaluated, and selected;
(3) Quality standards are prescribed, and met;
(4) Performance or delivery is timely;
(5) Files are documented to substantiate the judgments, decisions, and actions taken.