(a) Authority to make micro-purchases or issue TSR’s.
(1) HCAs may authorize division directors or higher level officials to delegate contracting authority to employees to:
(i) Make purchases not to exceed $2,500 (micro-purchases).
(ii) Issue TSRs for tariff services on, or in conjunction with, existing telephone systems, to regulated local exchange telephone companies. (Officials so designated by the HCA may not redelegate their authority.)
(2) Memoranda delegating authority to issue TSRs must state that the authority does not apply to Rate Stabilization Plans or orders for new Centrex service on a site level basis, except for new locations that require interim, temporary, small or emergency service.
(3) Branch chiefs or equivalent or Regional FTS Program Support Branch Chiefs may request delegations of contracting authority for issuing TSRs. The memorandum requesting appointment must include all the following:
(i) Candidate’s name, title, and organizational location.
(ii) Brief explanation of why authority is needed.
(iii) Brief description of the candidate’s qualifications.
(iv) Statement that the candidate has received the required training.
(b) Authority to make other purchases.-
(1) Nominations for appointment.
(i) The chairperson of COWB, or other designee established by the HCA, submits nominations for appointment.
(ii) Nominations are submitted on GSA Form 3410, Request for Appointment and must be accompanied by one of the following: a GSA Form 3409, Personal Qualifications Statement for Appointment as a Contracting Officer; a Standard Form 171, Personal Qualifications Statement, prepared and signed by the candidate; or a resume detailing the candidate’s experience, education, and training relevant to the position.
(2) Certificate of Appointment.
(i) HCA’s appoint contracting officers at the basic, simplified acquisition, intermediate, or senior level using Standard Form 1402, Certificate of Appointment. Appendix 501A provides suggested language for use in preparing SF 1402’s. The examples shown in Appendix 501A are not meant to limit the issuance of warrants to only those contained in the Appendix.
(ii) The HCA gives the original Certificate of Appointment to the appointed contracting officer for display at his or her duty station.
(3) Types of appointments. Candidates are nominated for either an interim or permanent appointment.
(i) Interim appointments. Interim appointments are for a specified period of time. Personnel who hold interim simplified acquisition warrants must complete all training required for a permanent warrant within 1 year of the interim appointment. Personnel who hold interim warrants above the simplified acquisition level must complete all training and formal education required for a permanent warrant within 3 years of the interim appointment. A candidate for an interim warrant must have completed all courses required for an interim warrant and have the necessary experience prior to appointment.
(ii) Permanent appointments. A permanent appointment is made to a candidate who meets all requirements for experience, education, and training at the time the appointment is made. Permanent appointments may be made for a specified period if the need for contracting authority is limited to that time period.
(c) Training required for continued appointment for other than micro-purchase, TSR, or interim warrants.
(1) To maintain competency, you must complete formal or informal acquisition-related training as follows. The training may be accomplished through completion of a training class or through any of the examples cited in 501.603(c)(2) below.
(i) 16 hours every two years (for basic or simplified acquisition level warrants).
(ii) 40 hours every 2 years (for intermediate or senior level warrants).
(2) To meet this requirement, you may attend:
(i) In-house training sessions.
(ii) Courses designed to broaden procurement knowledge (e.g., Contract Quality Assurance, Evaluating Contractor Performance, Alternative Dispute Resolution Procedures), including repeat courses taken for refresher training.
(iii) Courses related to procurement (e.g., Ethics, Standards of Conduct).
(iv) Lectures, seminars, or conferences conducted by nationally-recognized acquisition organizations or professional associations (e.g., National Contract Management Association, National Institute of Governmental Purchasing) or write papers or articles for these groups.
(v) Training to acquire knowledge of the product or service you are responsible for procuring (i.e., courses and in-house training sessions; attending contractor sponsored seminars, conferences, and trade shows; and site visits to a contractor’s place of manufacture/performance to learn about manufacturing/operations processes).
(3) If you successfully complete a professional certification program offered by a nationally-recognized acquisition organization such as NCMA, NIGP, NAPM, or equivalent organization, you fulfill the continuing education requirements for contracting officers for a period of 3 years. The 3-year period begins on the effective date of your professional certification.
(d) Authority to make purchases for domestic and national security emergencies.
(1) If you have already been appointed as a contracting officer, you may enter into contracts on behalf of a GSA organization different from the organization specified in your Certificate of Appointment in response to a domestic or national security emergency (see GSA Order, National Emergency Management Program (ADM P 2400.18)).
(2) An HCA may grant higher contracting authority for use during emergencies in a basic or intermediate warrant.
(3) An HCA may appoint contracting officers with authority limited to entering into contracts required to respond to domestic or national security emergencies.
