Contracting officer responsibilities
Contracting officers must ensure service contract reporting clauses are included and enforced, and contractor noncompliance is documented in performance records.
Overview
FAR 4.1704 outlines the responsibilities of contracting officers regarding the inclusion and enforcement of service contract reporting requirements. It mandates that contracting officers ensure the appropriate FAR clauses (52.204-14 or 52.204-15) are included in solicitations, contracts, and orders, depending on the contract type. For indefinite-delivery contracts, the awarding contracting officer must include the correct clause, and the order-level contracting officer must verify its presence. If a contractor fails to submit required reports on time, the contracting officer must take contractual action and document the failure in the contractor’s performance record under FAR subpart 42.15.
Key Rules
- Clause Inclusion
- Contracting officers must include the correct service contract reporting clause (52.204-14 or 52.204-15) in all relevant solicitations, contracts, and orders as prescribed by FAR 4.1705.
- Verification for Indefinite-Delivery Contracts
- The order-level contracting officer must verify that the appropriate clause is included in the contract.
- Enforcement of Reporting
- If a contractor fails to submit required reports, the contracting officer must use contractual remedies and record the noncompliance in the contractor’s performance information.
Responsibilities
- Contracting Officers: Ensure inclusion and verification of required clauses; enforce reporting requirements; document contractor noncompliance.
- Contractors: Submit required service contract reports on time.
- Agencies: Oversee compliance and maintain accurate contractor performance records.
Practical Implications
This section ensures that service contract reporting requirements are consistently applied and enforced, supporting agency inventory and oversight. Failure to comply can affect a contractor’s performance record and future contract opportunities. Common pitfalls include missing clause inclusion and inadequate follow-up on reporting failures.