# 501.603-2 Selection.

(a) Contracting Officer Warrant Board (COWB).

(1) The COWB ensures that all of the applicable criteria have been met prior to granting any GSA contracting officer warrant.

(2) Composition of the COWB. The HCA appoints the Board members and the Chair.

(i) COWB Chair. The COWB Chair evaluates the contracting officer candidate's credentials prior to submission to the COWB.

(ii) Senior leadership representing each type of warrant issued by the contracting activity.

(iii) Other specialized representation, such as legal counsel assistance (as requested).

(iv) Any other designee with knowledge and experience in the warrant procedures.

(b) Nominations for appointment. Nominations for appointment are submitted by the candidate's supervisor of record to the designated Acquisition Career Management Point of Contact. The designated Acquisition Career Management Point of Contact must coordinate with the candidate and COWB to facilitate approval by the HCA.

(c) Evaluation of candidates for contracting officer warrants.

(1) Experience requirements. The COWB must consider the candidate's relevant experience in determining the candidate's capability to assume contracting officer responsibilities at the desired level. The COWB must consider the quality of past contracts and leases as it pertains to the review of contract files for conformity to policy, quality of documentation and appropriate contracting action and the results of any independent review conducted by the contracting activity to verify the nominee's contracting experience as defined in 501.603-1(a) at the intermediate and senior level.

Warrant Level | Experience Required
--- | ---
Basic | At least 1 year of current (within last 3 years) contracting experience with progressively broader assignments
Simplified | At least 2 years of current (within the last 5 years) contracting experience with progressively broader assignments
Intermediate | At least 3 years of current (within the last 7 years) contracting experience with progressively broader assignments
Senior | At least 4 years of current (within the last 10 years) contracting experience with progressively broader assignments

(2) Training requirements. Warrant applicants must complete specific training for the applicable warrant type as a condition of being issued that warrant as identified on the Acquisition Career Management pages on the GSA Acquisition Portal at https://insite.gsa.gov/acquisitionportal.

(3) Educational requirements. Employees who were warranted prior to January 1, 2000, are considered to have met the educational standard for their existing warrant; however, warrant increases or new warrant applications are subject to applicable warrant requirements.