[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 48, Volume 1]
[Revised as of October 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 48CFR1.102-4]

[Page 7-8]
 
            TITLE 48--FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATIONS SYSTEM
 
                CHAPTER 1--FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION
 
PART 1_FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATIONS SYSTEM--Table of Contents
 
                Subpart 1.1_Purpose, Authority, Issuance
 
Sec.  1.102-4  Role of the acquisition team.

    (a) Government members of the Team must be empowered to make 
acquisition decisions within their areas of responsibility, including 
selection, negotiation, and administration of contracts consistent with 
the Guiding

[[Page 8]]

Principles. In particular, the contracting officer must have the 
authority to the maximum extent practicable and consistent with law, to 
determine the application of rules, regulations, and policies, on a 
specific contract.
    (b) The authority to make decisions and the accountability for the 
decision made will be delegated to the lowest level within the System, 
consistent with law.
    (c) The Team must be prepared to perform the functions and duties 
assigned. The Government is committed to provide training, professional 
development, and other resources necessary for maintaining and improving 
the knowledge, skills, and abilities for all Government participants on 
the Team, both with regard to their particular area of responsibility 
within the System, and their respective role as a team member. The 
contractor community is encouraged to do likewise.
    (d) The System will foster cooperative relationships between the 
Government and its contractors consistent with its overriding 
responsibility to the taxpayers.
    (e) The FAR outlines procurement policies and procedures that are 
used by members of the Acquisition Team. If a policy or procedure, or a 
particular strategy or practice, is in the best interest of the 
Government and is not specifically addressed in the FAR, nor prohibited 
by law (statute or case law), Executive order or other regulation, 
Government members of the Team should not assume it is prohibited. 
Rather, absence of direction should be interpreted as permitting the 
Team to innovative and use sound business judgment that is otherwise 
consistent with law and within the limits of their authority. 
Contracting officers should take the lead in encouraging business 
process innovations and ensuring that business decisions are sound.

[60 FR 34734, July 3, 1995, as amended at 62 FR 44804, Aug. 22, 1997]