Role of the Acquisition Team
FAR 1.102-5 empowers the Acquisition Team to make informed, delegated decisions and encourages innovation and collaboration, provided actions are lawful and in the government's best interest.
Overview
FAR 1.102-5 defines the roles, responsibilities, and expectations for members of the Acquisition Team, which includes both government and contractor personnel. It emphasizes empowering government team members, especially contracting officers, to make acquisition decisions within their authority and encourages delegation of decision-making to the lowest appropriate level. The section highlights the importance of training and professional development for government team members and encourages contractors to do the same. It also stresses the need for cooperative relationships between the government and contractors, always prioritizing taxpayer interests. Importantly, the regulation allows for innovation and sound business judgment when the FAR is silent on a specific policy or practice, provided such actions are not prohibited by law or regulation.
Key Rules
- Empowerment and Delegation
- Government team members, especially contracting officers, must be empowered to make decisions and have authority delegated to the lowest appropriate level.
- Training and Professional Development
- The government must provide resources for training and development; contractors are encouraged to do the same.
- Cooperative Relationships
- The acquisition process should foster cooperation between government and contractors, with taxpayer interests as the priority.
- Innovation and Sound Judgment
- When the FAR is silent, team members may innovate and use sound business judgment, as long as actions are legal and within their authority.
Responsibilities
- Contracting Officers: Exercise delegated authority, encourage innovation, and ensure decisions are sound and lawful.
- Contractors: Engage cooperatively with the government and invest in professional development.
- Agencies: Provide training, delegate authority appropriately, and foster a collaborative environment.
Practical Implications
- This section exists to clarify the roles and empower the Acquisition Team to act efficiently and innovatively.
- It impacts daily contracting by encouraging proactive decision-making, professional growth, and collaboration.
- Common pitfalls include failure to delegate, lack of training, or hesitancy to innovate when the FAR is silent.