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FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 1: Federal Acquisition Regulations System › Subpart 1.6

FAR 1.601 General.

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 states that the authority and responsibility to contract for authorized supplies and services belongs to the agency head, unless another law specifically prohibits it. It also explains that only contracting officers can enter into and sign contracts on behalf of the Government, and that agency heads may delegate contracting authority or arrange for other agencies to handle contracting functions.

Applies to: Agency heads and contracting officers

What it requires

  • Contracts may be entered into and signed on behalf of the Government only by contracting officers.
  • Contracting officers below the level of a head of a contracting activity shall be selected and appointed under 1.603.

Key terms: agency head · contracting activities · contracting officers · head of a contracting activity · acquisition functions

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

The text

(a) Unless specifically prohibited by another provision of law, authority and responsibility to contract for authorized supplies and services are vested in the agency head. The agency head may establish contracting activities and delegate broad authority to manage the agency's contracting functions to heads of such contracting activities. Contracts may be entered into and signed on behalf of the Government only by contracting officers. In some agencies, a relatively small number of high level officials are designated contracting officers solely by virtue of their positions. Contracting officers below the level of a head of a contracting activity shall be selected and appointed under 1.603.

(b) Agency heads may mutually agree to—

(1) Assign contracting functions and responsibilities from one agency to another; and

(2) Create joint or combined offices to exercise acquisition functions and responsibilities.

Sections it refers to

  • 1.603 Selection, appointment, and termination of appointment for contracting officers.

← 1.503 Public meetings. · 1.602 Contracting officers. →

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 1.601 General · SpendQuery