The Contracting Officer is the federal employee with delegated authority to bind the United States contractually. CO authority is conveyed by a written warrant — Standard Form 1402 — specifying the dollar limit and types of actions the individual is authorized to take. Warrant levels range from simplified acquisitions to unlimited authority for senior contracting officials. Only a warranted CO can sign a contract, issue a modification, exercise an option, or terminate. FAR Subpart 1.6 governs the appointment, responsibilities, and limits of CO authority.
The contracting officer's role spans the acquisition lifecycle. Pre-award, the CO issues solicitations, conducts negotiations, makes the source selection decision, and signs the award. Post-award, the CO administers the contract — processing modifications, exercising options, resolving disputes, approving subcontracts above thresholds, and issuing terminations. The CO is supported by CORs for technical surveillance and by contract specialists for procurement administration — but only the CO can speak for the government on contractual matters.
For small contractors, the operational rule is simple: only the CO can change the contract. Direction from a COR, program manager, or technical lead is not contractually binding unless reduced to a written modification signed by the CO. Performing out-of-scope work on verbal direction creates uncompensated effort and exposes the firm to disputes. When direction comes from anyone other than the CO, the disciplined response is to confirm in writing and escalate before proceeding.