245.105 Contractors property management system compliance.

(a) Definitions . As used in this subpart

“Acceptable property management system” means a property system that complies with the system criteria in paragraph (c) of the clause at 252.245-7003, Contractor Property Management Administration.

“Property management system” means the contractor’s system or systems for managing and controlling Government property.

(b) Policy. The cognizant contracting officer, in consultation with the property administrator, shall—

(1) Determine the acceptability of the system and approve or disapprove the system; and

(2) Pursue correction of any weaknesses or deficiencies.

(c) In evaluating the acceptability of a contractor’s property management system, the contracting officer, in consultation with the property administrator, shall determine whether the contractor’s property management system complies with the system criteria for an acceptable property management system as prescribed in the clause at 252.245-7003 , Contractor Property Management System Administration.

(d) Disposition of findings

(1) Reporting of findings. The property administrator shall document findings and recommendations in a report to the contracting officer. If the property administrator identifies any material weaknesses, the report shall describe the underlying deficiencies in sufficient detail to allow the contracting officer to understand the weaknesses or deficiencies.

(2) Initial determination.

(i) The contracting officer shall review findings and recommendations and, if there are no material weaknesses, shall promptly notify the contractor, in writing, that the contractor’s property management system is acceptable and approved; or

(ii) If the contracting officer finds that there are one or more https://www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/dars/dfars/html/current/252245.htm#252.245-7003 material weaknesses due to the contractor’s failure to meet one or more of the property management system criteria in the clause at 252.245-7003, the contracting officer shall—

(A) Promptly make an initial written determination on any material weaknesses and notify the contractor, in writing, providing a description of each material weakness in sufficient detail to allow the contractor to understand the weakness (see PGI 245.105(d)(2));

(B) Request the contractor to respond, in writing, to the initial determination within 30 days and;

(C) Evaluate the contractor’s response to the initial determination, in consultation with the property administrator, and make a final determination.

(3) Final determination.

(i) The contracting officer shall make a final determination and notify the contractor, in writing, that—

(A) Promptly make an initial written determination on any material weaknesses and notify the contractor, in writing, providing a description of each material weakness in sufficient detail to allow the contractor to understand the weakness (see PGI 245.105(d)(2));

(B) Material weaknesses remain. The notice shall identify any remaining material weaknessesand indicate the adequacy of any proposed or completed corrective action. The contracting officer shall—

(1) Request that the contractor, within 45 days of receipt of the final determination, either correct the weaknesses or submit an acceptable corrective action plan showing milestones and actions to eliminate the weaknesses;

(2) Disapprove the system in accordance with the clause at 252.245-7003; and

(3) Withhold payments in accordance with the clause at 252.242-7005 , Contractor Business Systems, if the clause is included in the contract.

(ii) Follow the procedures relating to monitoring a contractor’s corrective action and the correction of material weaknesses in PGI 245.105 (d)(3).

(e) System approval. The contracting officer shall promptly approve a previously disapproved property management system and notify the contractor when the contracting officer determines, in consultation with the property administrator, that there are no remaining material weaknesses.

(f) Contracting officer notifications. The cognizant contracting officer shall promptly distribute copies of a determination to approve a system, disapprove a system and withhold payments, or approve a previously disapproved system and release withheld payments to the auditor; payment office; affected contracting officers at the buying activities; and cognizant contracting officers in contract administration activities.