Contracting Officer (CO)

Definition

A Contracting Officer (CO or KO) is the government official legally authorized to bind the United States in contract. Authority is granted by a written warrant (SF 1402) up to a specified dollar limit. No one else in the government — not the program manager, not the COR, not the end user — can commit appropriated funds or change contract terms. COs divide into procuring contracting officers (PCOs, who award the contract), administrative contracting officers (ACOs, who manage performance), and termination contracting officers (TCOs, who close out terminated work).

Why It Matters

Every promise, modification, or direction that matters must come from the CO in writing. Verbal instructions from a COR or technical lead are not binding, and performing outside the scope of the contract on verbal direction creates unpaid work. Sophisticated contractors route every substantive question through the CO and keep a written record. This protects against cost growth, disputes, and adverse CPARS.

Example

A COR tells the contractor to add an additional deliverable. The contractor politely replies that it will gladly do so once the CO modifies the contract. Two weeks later, a $65K modification is issued, funded, and executed. Had the contractor simply performed, the hours would have been unrecoverable.

Related Terms