(a) Unless the acquisition is exempt under 4.1102, the contracting officer-
(1) Shall verify that the prospective contractor is registered in the CCR database (see paragraph (b) of this section) before awarding a contract or agreement. Contracting officers are encouraged to check the CCR early in the acquisition process, after the competitive range has been established, and then communicate to the unregistered offerors that they must register;
(2) Should use the DUNS number or, if applicable, the DUNS+4 number, to verify registration-
(i) Via the Internet at http://www.ccr.gov;
(ii) By calling toll-free: 1-888-227-2423, commercial: (269) 961-5757, or Defense Switched Network (DSN) (used at certain Department of Defense locations): 932-5757; or
(iii) As otherwise provided by agency procedures; and
(3) Need not verify registration before placing an order or call if the contract or agreement includes the clause at 52.204-7, or 52.212-4(t), or a similar agency clause, except when use of the Governmentwide commercial purchase card is comtemplated as a method of payment. (See 32.1108(b)(2)).
(b) If the contracting officer, when awarding a contract or agreement, determines that a prospective contractor is not registered in the CCR database and an exception to the registration requirements for the award does not apply (see 4.1102), the contracting officer shall-
(1) If the needs of the requiring activity allow for a delay, make award after the apparently successful offeror has registered in the CCR database. The contracting officer shall advise the offeror of the number of days it will be allowed to become registered. If the offeror does not become registered by the required date, the contracting officer shall award to the next otherwise successful registered offeror following the same procedures (i.e., if the next apparently successful offeror is not registered, the contracting officer shall advise the offeror of the number of days it will be allowed to become registered, etc.); or
(2) If the needs of the requiring activity do not allow for a delay, proceed to award to the next otherwise successful registered offeror, provided that written approval is obtained at one level above the contracting officer.
(c) Agencies shall protect against improper disclosure of contractor CCR information.
(d) The contracting officer shall, on contractual documents transmitted to the payment office, provide the DUNS number, or, if applicable, the DUNS+4, in accordance with agency procedures.
