[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 32, Volume 1]
[Revised as of July 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 32CFR21.220]

[Page 61-62]
 
                       TITLE 32--NATIONAL DEFENSE
 
              CHAPTER I--OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
 
PART 21--DoD GRANTS AND AGREEMENTS--GENERAL MATTERS--Table of Contents
 
               Subpart B--Authorities and Responsibilities
 
Sec. 21.220  Grants officers.

    (a) Authority. Only grants officers are authorized to sign grants or 
cooperative agreements, or to administer or terminate such legal 
instruments on behalf of the Department of Defense. Grants officers may 
bind the Government only to the extent of the authority delegated to 
them.
    (b) Responsibilities. Grants officers should be allowed wide 
latitude to exercise judgment in performing their responsibilities. 
Grants officers are responsible for ensuring that:
    (1) Individual grants and cooperative agreements are used 
effectively in the execution of DoD programs, and are awarded and 
administered in accordance with applicable laws, Executive orders, 
regulations, and DoD policies.
    (2) Sufficient funds are available for obligation.
    (3) Recipients of grants and cooperative agreements receive 
impartial, fair, and equitable treatment.
    (c) Selection, appointment and termination of appointment of grants 
officers. Each DoD Component that awards grants or enters into 
cooperative agreements shall have a formal process (see Sec. 21.210(b)) 
to select and appoint grants officers and terminate their appointments. 
DoD Components are not required to maintain a selection process for 
grants officers separate from the selection process for contracting 
officers, and written statements of appointment or termination for 
grants officers may be integrated into the necessary documentation for 
contracting officers, as appropriate.
    (1) Selection. In selecting grants officers, appointing officials 
shall consider the complexity and dollar value of the grants and 
cooperative agreements to

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be assigned and judge whether candidates possess the necessary 
experience, training, education, business acumen, judgment, and 
knowledge of contracts and assistance instruments to function 
effectively as grants officers.
    (2) Appointment. Statements of appointment shall be in writing and 
shall clearly state the limits of grants officers' authority, other than 
limits contained in applicable laws or regulations. Information on the 
limits of a grants officer's authority shall be readily available to the 
public and agency personnel.
    (3) Termination. Written statements of termination are required, 
unless the written statement of appointment provides for automatic 
termination. No termination shall be retroactive.