Comment on FR Doc # 2026-12559
David KaplanSupportIndividual
Summary: The commenter recommends amending FAR 1.402-1(a) to explicitly state that only contracting officers may solicit for contracts. They argue this change would clarify roles and prevent technical points of contact from posting invalid solicitations.
FAR 1.402-1(a) currently says "Only contracting officers may sign, administer, or terminate contracts on behalf of the Government." I recommend adding that only contracting officers may solicit for contracts as well, thus the new language should read "Only contracting officers may sign, administer, or terminate contracts on behalf of the Government." This would expressly clarify that technical points of contact, requiring activities, etc. cannot post solicitations. Currently, some of the technical points of contact post solicitations on various vehicles such as Army CHESS and think that contracting officers can make awards off said solicitation. If the FAR were clearly revised to state only a contracting officer may solicit, it would be clearcut to the technical points of contact they cannot post a valid solicitation.