SpendQueryBeta

FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 1: Federal Acquisition Regulations System › Subpart 1.1

FAR 1.102-5 Role of the acquisition team.

The codified text (eCFR, as of 2026-10-02). Under the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul ↗, agencies follow class deviations with new text for many parts while the formal rules go through the Federal Register: check the solicitation and your contract's clauses, which rule.

In plain English

This section describes the roles and responsibilities of the acquisition team, emphasizing empowerment, delegation of authority, and professional development. It encourages innovation and cooperative relationships between the Government and contractors. For contractors, it signals that Government team members, especially contracting officers, have authority to make decisions and that the absence of specific FAR guidance does not prohibit sound business judgment.

Applies to: Government acquisition team members and contractors

What it requires

  • Government members must be empowered to make acquisition decisions within their areas of responsibility.
  • The contracting officer must have authority to determine the application of rules, regulations, and policies on a specific contract.
  • The Team must be prepared to perform assigned functions and duties.

Key terms: acquisition team · Guiding Principles · contracting officer · System · FAR

Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.

The text

(a) Government members of the Team must be empowered to make acquisition decisions within their areas of responsibility, including selection, negotiation, and administration of contracts consistent with the Guiding Principles. In particular, the contracting officer must have the authority to the maximum extent practicable and consistent with law, to determine the application of rules, regulations, and policies, on a specific contract.

(b) The authority to make decisions and the accountability for the decision made will be delegated to the lowest level within the System, consistent with law.

(c) The Team must be prepared to perform the functions and duties assigned. The Government is committed to provide training, professional development, and other resources necessary for maintaining and improving the knowledge, skills, and abilities for all Government participants on the Team, both with regard to their particular area of responsibility within the System, and their respective role as a team member. The contractor community is encouraged to do likewise.

(d) The System will foster cooperative relationships between the Government and its contractors consistent with its overriding responsibility to the taxpayers.

(e) The FAR outlines procurement policies and procedures that are used by members of the Acquisition Team. If a policy or procedure, or a particular strategy or practice, is in the best interest of the Government and is not specifically addressed in the FAR, nor prohibited by law (statute or case law), Executive order or other regulation, Government members of the Team should not assume it is prohibited. Rather, absence of direction should be interpreted as permitting the Team to innovative and use sound business judgment that is otherwise consistent with law and within the limits of their authority. Contracting officers should take the lead in encouraging business process innovations and ensuring that business decisions are sound.

Sections that refer to it

← 1.102-4 Acquisition team. · 1.103 Authority. →

Rule changes for FAR Part 1

Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.

FAR 1.102-5 Role of the acquisition team · SpendQuery