[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 48, Volume 5]

[Revised as of October 1, 2006]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 48CFR801.690-1]



[Page 149-150]

 

            TITLE 48--FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATIONS SYSTEM

 

                CHAPTER 8--DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

 

PART 801_VETERANS AFFAIRS ACQUISITION REGULATIONS SYSTEM--Table of Contents

 

      Subpart 801.6_Career Development, Contracting Activity, and 

                            Responsibilities

 

Sec. 801.690-1  Definitions.



    (a) Head of the Contracting Activity (HCA) means an individual who 

has overall responsibility for managing the procurement program assigned 

to the activity. HCA designations are prescribed in VAAR 802.100. The 

HCA has the authority to appoint contracting officers with authority to 

conduct procurements of up to and including $25,000 or the maximum order 

limitation for orders placed against established contracts, and 

terminate such appointments.

    (b) Recommending official means an individual who is authorized by 

VAAR 801.690 and its subsections to recommend to a designating official 

that an individual be appointed as a contracting officer.

    (c) Designating official means an individual who is authorized to 

appoint and terminate contracting officers.

    (d) Contracting Officer Certification Board (COCB) means the group 

of Department officials, listed in VAAR 801.690-3(c), that evaluates and 

recommends to the designating official individuals as contracting 

officers at the Intermediate and Senior levels of authority, which 

levels are described in VAAR 801.690-2(c).

    (e) Contracting Officer Certification Program (COCP) means a program 

designated by Department management for the selection, appointment, and 

termination of appointment of contracting officers. Training, 

experience, education, performance, and conduct are the objective 

criteria reviewed prior to appointment as contracting officer.

    (f) Qualifications means an employee's record of training, 

experience, education, performance, and conduct which are reviewed prior 

to designation as contracting officer. These ``qualifications'' are not 

identical, supplemental, or related to the position qualification 

requirements published by the Office of Personnel Management in Handbook 

X-118.

    (g) Appointment means the delegation of authority to any employee to 

enter into, administer or terminate contracts, and make related 

determinations and findings. Appointment provisions are identified in 

801.690-5.

    (h) Certification means an evaluation that the candidate has the 

experience, education and training to perform properly the duties of a 

contracting officer.

    (i) Selection means that an employee has been appointed or certified 

as a contracting officer. The ``selection'' process is not identical, 

supplemental or related to any process whereby an



[[Page 150]]



employee is placed into a position by any competitive action (merit 

promotion) or noncompetitive action (reassignment, reinstatement). 

Selection provisions are identified in 801.690-4.

    (j) Termination means the revocation of contracting authority of a 

contracting officer by the designating official. Termination provisions 

are identified in 801.690-6.

    (k) Acquisition Training Program (ATP) means a program designed to 

provide contracting officers with classroom knowledge to further develop 

their acquisition skills.



[52 FR 24010, June 26, 1987, as amended at 54 FR 31964, Aug. 3, 1989; 54 

FR 40062, Sept. 29, 1989]