32.409
Contracting officer action
Contracting officers must thoroughly review and formally recommend approval or disapproval of advance payment requests, forwarding all documentation to the designated approving authority.
Overview
FAR 32.409 outlines the required actions for contracting officers when processing contractor applications for advance payments in non-commercial acquisitions. After reviewing the contractor’s application and conducting any necessary investigation, the contracting officer must make a recommendation—either for approval or disapproval—and forward both the application and their recommendation to the designated approving authority as specified in FAR 32.402(e). This section ensures a formal, documented process for evaluating and escalating advance payment requests, supporting transparency and risk management in government contracting.
Key Rules
- Application Review and Investigation
- The contracting officer must analyze the contractor’s application and conduct any necessary investigation to assess the request for advance payments.
- Recommendation and Transmission
- The contracting officer must recommend either approval or disapproval and transmit the application and their recommendation to the designated approving authority.
Responsibilities
- Contracting Officers: Must thoroughly review applications, conduct investigations as needed, and formally document and transmit their recommendations.
- Contractors: Must submit complete and accurate applications for advance payments.
- Agencies: Must designate an approving authority and ensure proper oversight of the advance payment process.
Practical Implications
- This section exists to ensure that advance payment requests are carefully vetted and escalated through a formal process, reducing financial risk to the government.
- It impacts daily contracting by requiring contracting officers to follow a structured review and recommendation process, which can delay approval if documentation or investigation is incomplete.
- Common pitfalls include insufficient investigation, incomplete documentation, or failure to transmit recommendations to the correct authority.