# AFFARS PART 5302Definitions of Words and Terms

- PART 5302
  Definitions of Words and Terms

- SUBPART 5302.1 — DEFINITIONS

- 5302.101 Definitions

PART 5302
Definitions of Words and Terms

[Revised April 21, 2011]

SUBPART 5302.1 — DEFINITIONS

5302.101 Definitions

"Acquisition Category (ACAT)" is the category used to determine the Milestone Decision Authority for an acquisition program based on its location in the acquisition process, dollar value, and complexity.

“AFISRA” is the Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency.

“Agency Head” (see “head of the agency”)

“ASAF(A)” means the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition.

"Base Commander" (see “Installation commander”)

"Center Commander" means, in AFMC, the field activity commander or civilian equivalent of Aeronautical Systems Center, Air Armament Center, Air Force Flight Test Center, Air Force Research Laboratory, Arnold Engineering Development Center, Electronic Systems Center, Air Force Global Logistics Support Center, Nuclear Weapons Center, Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center, Ogden Air Logistics Center, and Warner Robins Air Logistics Center. In AFSPC, “center commander” means the field activity commander of Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC).

"Chief of the Contracting Office" means any person who has direct managerial responsibility for the operation of a contracting office as defined in FAR 2.1. Unless specifically excepted, this term may include, at the option of the designated official, the deputy chief or acting chief of the contracting office. This term includes the Contracting Squadron Commander (SQ/CC)/Deputy or civilian equivalent.

“Commodity Management Plan (CMP)” is a high level strategy for an overarching commodity good and/or service, (e.g., information technology), which recommends the commodity objectives, spiral strategy, implementation schedule and resources. Commodity Strategy Officials (CSOs) approve the CMP.
“Commodity Council” means a cross-functional group of individuals responsible for the development of an AF-wide procurement strategy for a particular class or group of goods or services.

“Commodity Council Director” means the individual serving as the program director for the commodity council. The commodity council director is responsible for managing the core commodity council team, overseeing development of the commodity management plan (CMP), ensuring execution of the commodity strategy and reporting compliance as required by the commodity strategy official (CSO).

“Commodity Strategy Official (CSO)” means an individual responsible for approval and execution of a commodity council’s charter and sourcing strategy which includes the CMP and CSS. CSO additional responsibilities include directing the use of strategic agreements and ensuring adequate representation on the commodity council.

“Commodity Sourcing Strategy (CSS)” is a detailed sourcing strategy for a specific spiral (e.g., Desktops/Laptops) which recommends a policy, demand management, and/or an acquisition for the spiral. This document includes anticipated results, resources and an implementation schedule. Commodity Strategy Officials (CSOs) approve the CSS.

“Designated Acquisition Official (DAO)” means an individual dedicated to executive management at Air Logistics Centers of delegated ACAT II or ACAT III programs expending investment dollars. The DAO shall be chartered by and is accountable to the SAE (see AFI 63-101).

“DAS(C)” means the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Contracting. The authority granted to DAS(C) may also be exercised by the Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary (Contracting).

“Direct Reporting Unit (DRU)” means a subdivision of the Air Force, directly subordinate to the Chief of Staff, US Air Force. DRUs include the Air Force District of Washington (AFDW), United States Air Force Academy (USAFA), and Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center (AFOTEC).

“Field Operating Agency (FOA)” means a subdivision of the Air Force that reports directly to an HQ USAF functional manager. A FOA performs field activities beyond the scope of any of the major commands. Its activities are specialized or associated with an Air Force wide mission.

"Head of the Agency" means, pursuant to HAF MD 1-10, 8 Apr 09, the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition) (ASAF(A)), unless the terms of a statute or delegation indicate that an action must be done by the Secretary of the Air Force (SECAF) or the Under Secretary of the Air Force (USECAF).

“HCA” means the Head of the Contracting Activity. HCAs are established in AFFARS 5301.601(a)(i).

"Installation Commander" means an individual who functions in a command position and is responsible for a base or other Air Force installation having a base contracting office.

“Major Command (MAJCOM)” means a major subdivision of the Air Force, directly subordinate to Headquarters US Air Force. MAJCOM headquarters are management headquarters and thus have the full range of functional staff (see AFI 38-101). MAJCOMs include Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC), Air Force Space Command (AFSPC), Air Combat Command (ACC), Air Mobility Command (AMC), Air Education and Training Command (AETC), Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE), Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC), and Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC).

“Milestone Decision Authority (MDA)” means the individual designated in accordance with criteria established by USD(AT&L), or by ASD(NII) for AIS acquisition programs, to approve entry of an acquisition program into the next phase of the acquisition process.

“Operational Contracting” is a subset of “Other Contracting” and means those contracting actions taken to meet the needs of installation commanders, DRUs, deployed commanders, and resident, tenant, and supported units. Operational contracting may be accomplished by contracting squadrons, operational contracting offices, contracting divisions, or another organization entity designed to meet local needs.

"Other Contracting" means those contracting actions, not in a PEO/DAO portfolio, taken to support acquisition programs, maintain and repair fielded weapon systems, and support Air Force operations. The term includes, but is not limited to, contracts for local purchase and other operational support; replenishment spares; programmed depot maintenance; weapon system modifications which do not involve significant development; contractor logistics support; manpower and support; and science and technology (i.e., research, exploratory development or advanced development, and not intended for a system specific application (6.1, 6.2, or 6.3A funds)).

"Program Executive Officer (PEO)" means an individual who has primary responsibility for directing assigned major/non-major system acquisition programs and major services acquisitions. The PEO reports to and receives guidance and direction from the Air Force Acquisition Executive.

“Quality Assurance Program Coordinator (QAPC)” is the individual selected in accordance with local procedures to coordinate and manage the Quality Assurance Program.

“Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP)” is the document government personnel use to assess contractor performance (see FAR 46.401, DFARS 246.401, DFARS 237.172), formerly known as the Performance Plan.

“Services Designated Official (SDO)” is the individual authorized IAW 10 U.S.C. 2330, to exercise responsibility for the management and oversight of the acquisition of contract services (see AFI 63-101, Chapter 4).

“Senior Contracting Official (SCO)” means the MAJCOM/DRU or AFISRA headquarters staff official with overall functional responsibility for contracting. The deputy to an SCO may exercise any SCO authority unless specifically limited by the SCO. The SCO may include the A7K, MSK, or MAJCOM Chief/Director of Contracting.

"Senior Center Contracting Official (SCCO)" means an individual serving in the position of Director of Contracting who reports directly to the Center Commander. This authority may also be exercised by the Deputy Director of Contracting, Assistant Director of Contracting, and the Technical Assistant to the Director of Contracting.

“Specialized Units” means those operational contracting units/offices that support several installations, specific customer(s), mission(s), or execute contracts for a specific product(s) or service(s). Specialized Units are designated by the SCO.