Subpart 901.6 - Career Development, Contracting Authority, and Responsibilities

(a) Contracting authority for DOE vests in the Secretary of Energy, and for NNSA in the Administrator.

(1) The Secretary has delegated this authority to the DOE Senior Procurement Executive. The DOE Senior Procurement Executive has redelegated this authority to the DOE Heads of Contracting Activities (HCA). These delegations are formal written delegations containing specific dollar limitations and conditions. Each DOE HCA, in turn, makes formal contracting officer appointments for its contracting activity.

(2) Contracting authority for NNSA vests in the Under Secretary for Nuclear Security, also known as the NNSA Administrator. The NNSA Administrator has delegated this authority, with specific dollar limitations and conditions to the NNSA Senior Procurement Executive. The NNSA Senior Procurement Executive has redelegated this authority to the NNSA Head of the Contracting Activities (HCA). Each NNSA HCA in turn makes formal contracting officer appointments for its contracting activity.

(b) The Senior Procurement Executives have been authorized, without power of redelegation, to perform the functions set forth at 48 CFR 1.601(b) regarding the assignment of contracting functions and responsibilities to another agency, and the creation of joint or combined offices with another agency to exercise acquisition functions and responsibilities.

(b)(2) The Senior Procurement Executives are authorized to ratify unauthorized commitments.

(3) The ratification authority of the DOE and NNSA Senior Procurement Executives in paragraph (b)(2) of this section is delegated to the Head of the Contracting Activity (HCA) for individual unauthorized commitments of $25,000 or under. The ratification authority of the HCA is nondelegable.

The DOE Order 361.1B, Acquisition Career Management Program, or its successor order, sets forth the requirements and responsibilities for the DOE and NNSA Acquisition Career Development Program.

See the DOE Order 541.1B, Appointment of Contracting Officers and Contracting Officer Representatives, or its successor order, for procedures on the appointment of contracting officers and contracting officer's representatives.