This part describes the Department of State Acquisition Regulation (DOSAR) in terms of establishment, relationship to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), arrangement, applicability, and deviation procedures.

Subpart 601.1 - Purpose, Authority, Issuance

601.101 Purpose.

The DOSAR is issued to provide Department guidance in accordance with the policy cited in FAR 1.301(a)(2). The portions of this regulation that affect the relationship between a Department of State organization and a contractor or potential contractor have been published in this Chapter 6 of Title 48 of the Code of Federal Regulations, in accordance with FAR 1.301(b).

601.105 Issuance.

601.105-3 Copies.

The DOSAR is available through the Department’s Intranet system at http://aope.a.state.gov, or through the Internet from A/OPE’s Acquisition Website. The Internet address is: http://www.statebuy.state.gov/

601.106 OMB Approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act.

The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520) requires that Federal agencies obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget before collecting information from ten (10) or more members of the public. Individuals are not required to respond to information collection unless the OMB number and burden estimate information is provided. Accordingly, the information and recordkeeping requirements contained in this regulation have been approved by OMB under OMB Control Number 1405-0050. The burden estimate is 225,503 hours. The information and recordkeeping requirements for Form DS-4053, Department of State Mentor-Protégé Program Application, have been approved by OMB under OMB Control Number 1405-0161; the burden estimate is 294 hours.

Subpart 601.2 - Administration

601.201 Maintenance of the FAR.

601.201-1 The two councils.

The Office of the Procurement Executive (A/OPE) represents the Department of State (DOS) on the Civilian Agency Acquisition Council. The Procurement Executive shall appoint a representative for this purpose. A/OPE is responsible for coordinating with all interested DOS elements on proposed FAR revisions and for advocating FAR revisions sought by the Department.

Subpart 601.3 - Agency Acquisition Regulations

601.301 Policy.

(a) The Assistant Secretary of State for Administration is the agency head for the purpose of FAR 1.301 (see Delegation of Authority No. 120 (34 FR 18095, October 30, 1969), as amended by Delegation of Authority No. 120-4 (59 FR 38022, July 26, 1994)). Under Delegation of Authority No. 120-5 (59 FR 62771, December 6, 1994), the Assistant Secretary of State for Administration redelegated to the Procurement Executive the authority to prescribe, promulgate, and amend DOS acquisition policies, rules, and regulations.

(b) The Department of State Acquisition Regulation (DOSAR) is prescribed under the authority of 22 U.S.C. 2658 and 40 U.S.C. 486(c).

601.302 Limitations.

(a) The FAR and the DOSAR apply to all DOS acquisitions of personal property and services, including construction, both within and outside the United States, unless expressly excluded by this subpart, or exempt from the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, as amended (40 U.S.C. 474(7)), or undertaken pursuant to the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956, as amended (22 U.S.C. 4308) or the Foreign Service Buildings Act of 1926, as amended (22 U.S.C. 292 et seq.).

(b) At posts where Joint Administrative Offices have been formed, the FAR and the DOSAR apply to all Agency for International Development (AID) administrative and technical support acquisitions, except in those areas which have been exempted by the cognizant administrative office.

601.303 Publication and codification.

(a) The DOSAR is issued as Chapter 6 of Title 48, Code of Federal Regulations. The DOSAR is established as Chapter 6 of the Federal Acquisition Regulations System. The DOSAR is divided into the same parts, subparts, sections, subsections, and paragraphs as the FAR. However, when the FAR coverage is adequate by itself, there will be no corresponding DOSAR coverage. Where the DOSAR implements a specific part, subpart, section, or subsection of the FAR, the DOSAR coverage is numbered and titled to correspond to the appropriate FAR number and title, except that the DOSAR number will include a 6 or 60 such that there will always be three numbers to the left of the decimal. For example, the DOSAR implementation of FAR 14.1 is shown as 614.1 and the DOSAR implementation of FAR 1.301 is shown as 601.301. Materials that supplement the FAR are assigned the numbers 70 and up. For example, DOSAR requires additional definitions than those used in FAR; this supplementary material is provided in 602.101-70.

(b) The DOSAR and its revisions are published in the Federal Register and in the Code of Federal Regulations, both of which may be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402.

Subpart 601.4 - Deviations from the FAR

601.403 Individual deviations.

The Procurement Executive is the agency head's designee for the purposes of FAR 1.403.

601.404 Class deviations.

The Procurement Executive is the agency head's designee for the purposes of FAR 1.404(a).

601.405 Deviations pertaining to treaties and executive agreements.

The Procurement Executive shall determine whether a deviation pertaining to treaties and executive agreements is authorized under FAR 1.405 or that a request for deviation is required under FAR 1.405(e).

601.470 Deviations from the DOSAR.

The authority to approve any deviations from the DOSAR is reserved to the Procurement Executive.

601.471 Procedures.

(a) The head of the contracting activity shall submit to the Procurement Executive a written request for each deviation from the FAR or the DOSAR, whether for individual cases, classes of cases, or deviations pertaining to treaties and executive agreements. Each request for a deviation shall state-

(1) The nature of the deviation requested, including whether it is an individual or class deviation;

(2) The FAR or DOSAR regulation from which the deviation is requested;

(3) The circumstances under which the deviation would be used;

(4) The effect intended by the deviation; and

(5) The expiration date recommended for the deviation.

(b) The head of the contracting activity shall also submit all pertinent documentation supporting the request.

(c) The contracting officer shall include in the contract file a copy of each authorized deviation that pertains to the acquisition.

Subpart 601.5 - Agency and Public Participation

601.570 Rule making.

(a) The DOSAR is promulgated and may be revised, as necessary, in accordance with FAR Part 1.

(b) The Procurement Executive shall issue all DOS acquisition regulations.

Subpart 601.6 - Career Development, Contracting Authority, and Responsibilities

601.601 General.

The Procurement Executive is the agency head for the purposes of FAR 1.601.

601.602 Contracting officers.

601.602-1 Authority.

(a) DOS contracts are awarded pursuant to the foreign affairs management responsibilities conferred on the Secretary of State (22 U.S.C. 2656), and the various laws, regulations, and Executive Orders relating thereto.

(b) Except as otherwise provided by law, DOS regulations, and this DOSAR, the Procurement Executive has the authority to execute, award, and administer contracts, purchase orders, other contractual arrangements, and other agreements, including FAR-covered interagency acquisition agreements, for the expenditure of funds involved in the acquisition of personal property, services, and for the sale of personal property. The Procurement Executive may further delegate this authority to those DOS employees appointed or designated to the contracting activities enumerated in 601.603-70.

(c) The contracting officer shall not award, modify, or terminate a contract unless all reviews, clearances, and approvals prescribed in the FAR or DOSAR have been obtained, and all applicable requirements of law, the FAR, the DOSAR, and other regulations have been met.

601.602-3 Ratification of unauthorized commitments.

(b) Policy. (1) The Government generally is not bound by unauthorized commitments. Unauthorized commitments violate the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act, other Federal laws, the FAR, the DOSAR, and proper acquisition practice. Therefore, such unauthorized commitments are serious violations that usually necessitate disciplinary action against the transgressor, e.g., withdrawal of a contracting officer's warrant or a Contracting Officer's Representative delegation or collection action.

(2)(i) Unauthorized commitments not exceeding $1,000. The head of the contracting activity is delegated the authority to serve as the ratifying official for unauthorized commitments not exceeding $1,000, including unauthorized commitments from other agencies where a DOS individual serves as the contracting officer for that action. The head of the contracting activity may refer any actions not exceeding $1,000 to the DOS Procurement Executive for ratification if he or she so chooses.

(ii) Unauthorized commitments exceeding $1,000. All DOS unauthorized commitments in excess of $1,000 shall be submitted to the DOS Procurement Executive for ratification. Unauthorized commitments in excess of $1,000 from other agencies may be referred to the other agency’s representative at post for resolution in accordance with that agency’s ratification process. Alternatively, the DOS contracting officer may forward unauthorized commitments from other agencies to the DOS Procurement Executive, who will forward the action to the Procurement Executive of the other agency for resolution.

(3) Claims. Unauthorized contractual commitments that would involve claims subject to resolution under the Contracts Dispute Act of 1978 shall be processed in accordance with FAR Subpart 33.2 and Subpart 633.2.

(4) Disciplinary action. The Procurement Executive may refer egregious cases of unauthorized commitments to HE/ER for possible disciplinary action in accordance with 3 FAM 4370 or 3 FAM 4540. Examples might include repeated unauthorized commitments knowingly made by an employee; failure to take responsibility for a deliberate unauthorized commitment; or similar reasons. The Procurement Executive may revoke the appointment certificate of any contracting officer who makes an unauthorized commitment. The Procurement Executive may direct a contracting officer to revoke the appointment memorandum of a Contracting Officer’s Representative or Government Technical Monitor who makes an unauthorized commitment.

(c) Limitations. The contracting officer is not required to obtain concurrence of legal counsel when recommending payment of an unauthorized commitment. However, the contracting officer is encouraged to obtain legal concurrence if there is a question of propriety or a legal issue.

601.602-3-70 Procedures.

(a)(1) The person who made the unauthorized commitment shall submit all records and documents concerning the unauthorized commitment to the contracting officer assigned the ratification action. That person shall provide a complete written, signed statement of the facts, including why normal acquisition procedures were not followed; a statement justifying a sole source acquisition (Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition) if the unauthorized commitment exceeds $100,000; why and how the vendor was selected; a list of other sources considered; a description of work or products; a statement regarding the status of performance; an estimated or agreed price; certified funding citations; a statement as to why he/she should not be personally liable for the cost, e.g., a public purpose was served and no personal benefit was received; a statement as to whether the individual has ever been responsible for any other unauthorized commitments in the Department of State; and, a statement as to the number of unauthorized commitments processed by the responsible office within the last three calendar years and the circumstances surrounding each of these actions.

(2) When the person who made the unauthorized contractual commitment is no longer available to attest to the circumstances of the unauthorized commitment, an officer from the responsible office shall accomplish the requirements of this paragraph; the statement shall identify the individual responsible for the unauthorized commitment.

(3) In addition, a cognizant management official from the office which employed the individual who made the unauthorized commitment at the time the unauthorized commitment was made shall provide a statement detailing actions that he/she will take to ensure that such commitments will not occur again under the same or similar circumstances.

(4) This statement shall be cleared by the Executive Director of the Bureau that employs (or employed) the person who made the unauthorized commitment.

(b) The contracting officer assigned the ratification action shall prepare and execute a recommendation to the ratifying official. The contracting officer shall either recommend that the ratifying official approve and ratify the unauthorized commitment; or, disapprove the ratification of the unauthorized commitment.

(1) The recommendation shall include the facts and circumstances of the unauthorized commitment; the information prescribed in FAR 1.602-3(c)(1) and (c)(3) through (c)(6); and a recommendation to the ratifying official as to whether the unauthorized commitment should be ratified.

(2) Following the signature of the contracting officer, the recommendation shall include a statement that the ratifying official could have granted authority to enter into a contractual commitment at the time it was made and still has the authority to do so; that the ratifying official hereby ratifies (or disapproves) the unauthorized commitment in the amount specified; and a date and signature block for the ratifying official.

(c) The information required in paragraph (b)(1) above shall be supported by factual findings included or referenced in the recommendation.

(d) The contracting officer shall submit the complete file to the ratifying official. For actions exceeding $1,000, the file shall be submitted through the head of the contracting activity to the Procurement Executive.

(e) Upon receipt and review of the complete file, if the ratifying official ratifies the unauthorized commitment, the file shall be returned, through the head of the contracting activity if the action exceeds $1,000, to the contracting officer for issuance of the appropriate contractual document(s). If the request for ratification is not justified, the ratifying official shall return the request to the head of the contracting activity (if over $1,000) or to the contracting officer (if under $1,000) with a written explanation for the decision and a recommendation for disposition of the action.

(f)(1) When a ratification is approved, and the contractor involved in the ratification is a U.S. firm, the ratifying official shall prepare a letter to the contractor. The letter shall state the reason(s) why the ratification was approved and provide cautionary language to the contractor regarding future instances of ratification actions. If the contractor is not a U.S. firm, and the unauthorized commitment occurred at an overseas post, then this letter is optional.

(2) When a ratification is not approved, the head of the contracting activity shall prepare a letter to the contractor advising that the ratification was not approved. The letter shall cite the reason(s) for the disapproval.

601.603 Selection, appointment, and termination of appointment.

601.603-1 General.

Details of the Department’s acquisition career management program are described in 14 FAH-3, Acquisition Career Management Program Handbook, which is available on the Internet at http://foia.state.gov/REGS/search.asp.

601.603-3 Appointment.

(a) General. There is no contracting officer authority conferred upon any DOS employee by virtue of position. The Procurement Executive appoints all DOS contracting officers, in conformance with FAR 1.603-3, with the one exception as noted in paragraph (b) of this section. The contracting officer shall retain the original copy of the Standard Form 1402, Certificate of Appointment, signed by the Procurement Executive. Only qualified employees shall be appointed as Contracting Officers. A/OPE is responsible for providing guidance and oversight in managing such appointments.

(b) Temporary warrants. The Chief of Mission is delegated the authority by the Procurement Executive to issue temporary contracting officer warrants for periods up to 90 calendar days in order to cover emergency, post-specific operational requirements (e.g., staffing gaps, medical evacuations, extended leave, etc.). These temporary appointments shall be executed on the Standard Form 1402, and a copy shall be furnished to A/OPE. The warrant shall contain both a dollar limitation of no more than $100,000 and a specific period (not to exceed 90 days) during which the warrant is effective.

(c) Non-Federal employees. Only United States Government employees shall be appointed as contracting officers. For acquisitions at $25,000 and below only, this includes locally employed staff (i.e., Foreign Service Nationals and Third Country nationals). Personal services contractors are not eligible for appointment as DOS contracting officers.

(d) Personal services agreements. Individuals who may sign personal services agreements (PSAs) are limited to the following:

(1) The Human Resources Officer;

(2) The Human Resources/Financial Management Officer; or,

(3) The Management Officer or an American Foreign Service Officer designated to perform human resource functions.

(e) Real property leases. The FAR and DOSAR do not apply to leases of real property. A contracting officer certificate of appointment is not required. Authority to sign real property leases is as follows:

(1) Domestic real property leases. (i) The General Services Administration has delegated domestic leasing authority to the Department of State’s Office of Real Property Management (A/OPR/RPM). This delegation is accomplished on a case-by-case basis.

(ii) The Procurement Executive appoints all domestic leasing officers in writing on the DS-2037, Real Property Leasing Officer Certificate of Appointment. Appointments are based on nominations by the Bureau of Administration’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Operations.

(2) Real property leases abroad. (i) Authority to sign real property leases abroad is held by the Director/Chief Operating Officer (DIR/COO) of the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), through the Secretary of State, under the Foreign Buildings Act of 1926, as amended (22 U.S.C. 292 et seq.). Leases at post may be executed by the General Services Officer or by other post administrative personnel as authorized by OBO.

601.603-70 Delegations of authority.

(a) Delegations. As stated in 601.603-3(a), there is no contracting officer authority conferred by virtue of position. Pursuant to 601.602-1(b), the Procurement Executive has designated the following as contracting activities as defined in FAR 2.101. These authorities are not redelegable. In addition, specific individuals are designated as heads of contracting activities (HCAs) (see FAR 2.101):

(1) Overseas posts. Each overseas post shall be regarded as a contracting activity to enter into and administer contracts for the expenditure of funds involved in the acquisition of supplies, equipment, publications, and services. The Principal Officer, the Management Officer, or the Supervisory General Services Officer are designated as HCAs; provided, that he/she has a contracting officer's warrant issued by the Procurement Executive. The Procurement Executive (or authorized A/OPE staff) may delegate to a contracting officer, on a case-by-case basis, the authority to award a contract or modification which exceeds the contracting officer's warrant level.

(i) No authority is delegated to enter into cost-reimbursement, fixed-price incentive, or fixed-price redeterminable contracts. Design/build solicitations and contracts may only be entered into with the written approval of A/OPE and OBO. Proposed construction contracts exceeding $500,000 and any related architect-engineer contracts must have prior A/OPE approval.

(ii) When expressly authorized by a U.S. Government agency which does not have a contracting officer at the post, the officers named in paragraph (a)(1) introductory text of this section may enter into contracts for that agency. Use of this authority is subject to the statutory authority of that agency and any special contract terms or other requirements necessary for compliance with any conditions or limitations applicable to the funds of that agency. The agency's authorization shall cite the statute(s) and state any special contract terms or other requirements with which the acquisition so authorized must comply. In view of the contracting officer's responsibility for the legal, technical, and administrative sufficiency of contracts, questions regarding the propriety of contracting actions that the post is required to take pursuant to this authority may be referred to the Department for resolution with the headquarters of the agency concerned.

(2) Office of Logistics Management; Office of Acquisition Management (A/LM/AQM). The authority to enter into and administer contracts for the expenditure of funds involved in the acquisition of supplies and services, including construction, is delegated to the Director or designee as the HCA.

(3) Foreign Service Institute. The authority to enter into and administer contracts pursuant to Chapter 7, Title I, of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as amended (22 U.S.C. 4021 et seq.), is delegated to the Director of the Foreign Service Institute, the Executive Director, the Deputy Executive Director, and the Supervisory Contracting Officer as the HCA.

(4) Office of Foreign Missions. The authority to enter into and administer contracts pursuant to Title II of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956, as amended (22 U.S.C. 4301 et seq.), is delegated to the Director, Office of Foreign Missions, and the Administrative Officer as the HCA.

(5) U.S. Mission to the United Nations. The authority to enter into and administer contracts pursuant to the United Nations Participation Act of 1945, as amended (22 U.S.C. 287), is delegated to the Counselor for Administration as the HCA.

(6) Regional Procurement Support Offices. The authority to enter into and administer contracts for the expenditure of funds involved in the acquisition of supplies, equipment, publications, and services on behalf of overseas posts is delegated to each Director, Regional Procurement Support Office (RPSO) as the HCA at the following locations:

(i) RPSO Frankfurt in conjunction with Consulate General Frankfurt; and

(ii) RPSO Florida in conjunction with the Florida Regional Center.

(b) Other delegations. Several DOS offices have been delegated limited procurement authority, although they have not been designated as HCAs. Matters requiring HCA resolution are referred to A/LM/AQM. These delegations are provided only to warranted contracting officers in the respective offices. They are as follows:

(1) Office of Language Services. The authority to enter into and administer simplified acquisition transactions under FAR Part 13 and orders against existing contracts up to the maximum ordering threshold or limitation for interpreting, translating, conference reporting, and related language support and escort services.

(2) Office of Overseas Schools. The authority to enter into and administer simplified acquisition transactions under FAR Part 13 and orders against existing contracts up to the maximum ordering threshold or limitation pursuant to section 29 of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956, as amended.

(3) Library. The authority to enter into and administer simplified acquisition transactions under FAR Part 13 and orders against existing contracts up to the maximum ordering threshold or limitation pursuant to the provisions of the Public Printing and Documents Act of 1968, as amended, for the acquisition of newspapers, books, maps, and periodicals.

(4) Office of International Conferences. The authority to enter into and administer simplified acquisition transactions under FAR Part 13 and orders against existing contracts up to the maximum ordering threshold or limitation pursuant to section 5, Title I, of the Department of State Basic Authorities Act of 1956, as amended.

(5) Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. The authority to enter into and administer simplified acquisition transactions under FAR Part 13, orders against existing contracts up to the maximum ordering threshold or limitation and personal services contracts pursuant to the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended; and, 48 CFR Chapter 7, Agency for International Development Acquisition Regulation, including any amendments thereto. These authorities extend to any acquisition performed by any Department of State contracting activity on behalf of INL.

(6) Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization. The authority to enter into and administer 8(a) purchase orders and contracts as a third party pursuant to the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the Small Business Administration.

(7) Bureau of Administration, Office of Operations. The authority to enter into and administer simplified acquisition transactions for emergency or contingency operations necessary to protect life or federal property. This authority is limited to cases when a contracting officer in the Office of Acquisitions is unavailable.