# 501.603-3 Appointment.

(a) Certificate of Appointment.

(1) The HCA appoints contracting officers at the Basic, Simplified Acquisition, Intermediate, or Senior level using Standard Form 1402, Certificate of Appointment.

(2) The HCA signs the original Certificate of Appointment before it is issued to the appointed contracting officer.

(3) Suggested language for the Certificate of Appointment may be found on the Acquisition Workforce Community of Practice accessible through GSA’s Acquisition Portal at https://insite.gsa.gov/topics/acquisition-purchases-and-payments/acquisition-portal/acquisition-career-management/gsa-warrant-program/contracting-officer-warrant-program?term=suggested_language_for_certificate_of_appointment.

(4) PBS National Acquisition Warrants will be issued by the PBS Deputy Commissioner, the PBS Assistant Commissioner of Acquisition Management or their delegate in a centralized manner.

(5) PBS National Leasing Warrants will be issued by the PBS Deputy Commissioner or PBS Assistant Commissioner of Leasing or their delegate in a centralized manner.

(6) PBS National Site Acquisition Warrants will be issued by the PBS Deputy Commissioner, the PBS Assistant Commissioner of Portfolio Management and Customer Engagement or their delegate in a centralized manner.

(b) Types of appointments. Candidates are nominated for either an interim or permanent appointment. Candidates for a national warrant are nominated only for a permanent appointment. National appointments replace the need for a regional appointment. A contracting officer may only hold one warrant.

(1) Interim appointments. Interim appointments are for a specified period of time. Personnel who hold interim simplified acquisition warrants must complete all training required for a permanent warrant within 1year of the interim appointment. Personnel who hold interim warrants above the simplified acquisition level must complete all training and formal education required for a permanent warrant within 3 years of the interim appointment.

(2) Permanent appointments. A permanent appointment may be made when a candidate who meets all requirements for experience, education, and training at the time the appointment is made.

(3) Regional appointments. Regional appointments are for work specific to one region or portfolio. Regional appointments may be issued on either a permanent or interim basis.

(4) National appointments. National appointments are for work across GSA geographically.

(c) Transferability of Warrants.

(1) Regional warrants. Warrants may not transfer across contracting activities. Contracting officers that transfer to a new contracting activity must be invited to re-apply for a warrant in FAITAS.

(2) National warrants. PBS National Acquisition Warrants, National Leasing Warrants, and National Site Acquisition Warrants are issued for PBS-wide work, which allows the contracting officer to perform work for various entities within PBS. If a contracting officer with a PBS National Acquisition Warrant, National Leasing Warrant or National Site Acquisition Warrant transfers to another office within PBS, follow the requirements at 501.603-4(e).

(d) Authority to make purchases for domestic and national security emergencies.

(1) A contracting officer, you may enter into contracts on behalf of a GSA organization different from the organization specified in their Certificate of Appointment in response to a contingency operation, defense or recovery from certain attacks, major disaster declarations as defined in FAR 18 and other domestic or national security emergencies.

(2) The Office of the Chief Acquisition Officer (OCAO) or HCA may grant higher contracting authority during emergencies for Basic, Simplified and Intermediate warrants (See Office of Federal Procurement Policy Memorandum, Emergency Acquisition Guide, dated January 14, 2011 http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/procurement_guides/emergency_acquisitions_guide.pdf.

(3) The OCAO or HCA may appoint contracting officers with authority limited to entering into contracts required to respond to domestic or national security emergencies. This will provide GSA a cadre of emergency contracting officers who can instantly respond to emergencies if necessary. For warrants issued as a direct result of an emergency, the OCAO or HCA must have reasonable assurance that the employee is eligible to be warranted if the nature of the emergency precludes submission of otherwise necessary required documentation for the warrant (see 501.603-3(b)).

(e) Record Maintenance and Disposal.

(1) HCAs are required to keep and maintain comprehensive files containing relevant information on all appointed contracting officers until such time as all warrant data is fully maintained in FAITAS as determined by the ACM.

(2) HCAs are required to submit reports to the ACM with consistent and up to date information on the contracting officer warrants issued and terminated until such time as all warrant data is fully maintained in FAITAS as determined by the ACM.

(3) Acquisition professionals are responsible for maintaining a copy of their acquisition training history and source documents used for certification requests.

(4) In accordance with GSA Order OAS P 1820.1, GSA Records Management Program, dispose of expired contracting officer files and warrants by placing the contracting officer records in an inactive file following reassignment, termination of employment or revocation of designation. The inactive file cutoff date is the end of the fiscal year. The files are to be destroyed two years after the cutoff.