FAR and DFARS › DFARS Part 242: Contract Administration and Audit Services › Subpart 242.3
DFARS 242.302 Contract administration functions.
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 lists contract administration functions that Administrative Contracting Officers (ACOs) must perform or oversee. It matters because it tells contractors which office handles payments, business system approvals, and compliance monitoring, and it prevents certain functions from being delegated.
Applies to: DoD contractors and the administrative contracting officers who oversee their contracts
What it requires
- Do not delegate the responsibility to make payments to the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA).
- Follow the procedures at PGI 242.302(a)(13)(B) for designation of payment offices.
- Ensure implementation of the Synchronized Predeployment and Operational Tracker (SPOT) by the contractor and maintain surveillance over contractor compliance with SPOT business rules.
- Maintain surveillance over contractor compliance with trafficking in persons requirements for all DoD contracts for services incorporating the clause at FAR 52.222-50.
Key terms: ACO · DCMA · SPOT · EVMS · contract administration functions
Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.
The text
(a) (7) See 242.7502 for ACO responsibilities with regard to receipt of an audit report identifying significant accounting system or related internal control weaknesses or deficiencies.
(9) For additional contract administration functions related to IR&D projects and B&P projects performed by major contractors, see 242.771-3(a).
(12) Also perform all payment administration in accordance with any applicable payment clauses.
(13)(A) Do not delegate the responsibility to make payments to the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA).
(B) Follow the procedures at PGI 242.302(a)(13)(B) for designation of payment offices.
(39) See 223.370 for contract administration responsibilities on contracts for ammunition and explosives.
(56) Within DoD, maintaining surveillance of aircraft flight and ground operations is accomplished by incorporating into the contract, task order, or delivery order the requirements of the applicable version of the combined regulation/instruction entitled “Contractor's Flight and Ground Operations” (Air Force Instruction 10-220, Army Regulation 95-20, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Instruction 3710.1 (Series), Coast Guard Instruction M13020.3 (Series), and Defense Contract Management Agency Instruction 8210-1 (Series)). See PGI 242.302(a)(56).
(67) Also support program offices and buying activities in precontractual efforts leading to a solicitation or award.
(S-70) Serve as the single point of contact for all Single Process Initiative (SPI) Management Council activities. The ACO shall negotiate and execute facilitywide class modifications and agreements for SPI processes, when authorized by the affected components.
(S-71) DCMA has responsibility for reviewing earned value management system (EVMS) plans and for verifying initial and continuing contractor compliance with DoD EVMS criteria. The contracting officer shall not retain this function.
(S-72) Ensure implementation of the Synchronized Predeployment and Operational Tracker (SPOT) by the contractor and maintain surveillance over contractor compliance with SPOT business rules available at the Web site provided at PGI 207.105(b)(20)(C)(9) for contracts incorporating the clause at 252.225-7040, Contractor Personnel Supporting U.S. Armed Forces Deployed Outside the United States. See PGI 242.302(a)(S-72) for guidance on assessing contractor's implementation of SPOT.
(S-73) Maintain surveillance over contractor compliance with trafficking in persons requirements for all DoD contracts for services incorporating the clause at FAR 52.222-50, Combating Trafficking in Persons, and, when necessary, its Alternate I, as identified in the clause prescription at FAR 22.1705. (See PGI 222.1703.)
(S-74) Approve or disapprove contractor business systems, as identified in the clause at 252.242-7005, Contractor Business Systems.
(S-75) See PGI 242.302(a)(S-75) for guidelines for monitoring contractor costs.
(S-76) Review and audit contractor identification of contractor-approved suppliers for the acquisition of electronic parts, as identified in the clause at 252.246-7008, Sources of Electronic Parts.
(b)(S-70) Issue, negotiate, and execute orders under basic ordering agreements for overhaul, maintenance, and repair.
(S-71)(A) Except for classified contracts, negotiate or settle questioned direct costs in an incurred cost audit. The procuring contracting officer may delegate this authority to the contract administration office (CAO) only upon prior coordination and agreement with the CAO. Upon such delegation, the procuring contracting officer shall provide the CAO access within 30 days to all supporting documentation in their possession related to the questioned direct costs in an incurred cost audit.
(B) After settlement of the questioned direct costs, the CAO shall provide the procuring contracting office the results of the settlement. The procuring contracting office shall make any adjustments resulting from the settlement on affected contracts and report such adjustments to the CAO.
Sections it refers to
- 242.7502 Policy.
- 242.771-3 Responsibilities.
- 223.370 Safety precautions for ammunition and explosives.
- 207.105 Contents of written acquisition plans.
- 252.225-7040 Contractor Personnel Supporting U.S. Armed Forces Deployed Outside the United States.
- 52.222-50 Combating Trafficking in Persons.
- 22.1705 Solicitation provision and contract clause.
- 222.1703 Policy.
- 252.242-7005 Contractor business systems.
- 252.246-7008 Sources of Electronic Parts.
Sections that refer to it
- 213.301 Governmentwide commercial purchase card.
← 242.301 General. · 242.503 Postaward conferences. →
Rule changes for DFARS Part 242
- Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement; Technical Amendments ↗ · final rule 2025-08-25 · effective 2025-08-25
- Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Definition of Material Weakness (DFARS Case 2021-D006) ↗ · final rule 2025-01-17 · effective 2025-01-17
- Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Cost and Software Data Reporting for Major Weapons Systems (2021-D028) ↗ · proposed 2024-10-10 · comments due 2024-12-09
- Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Preference for United States Vessels in Transporting Supplies By Sea (DFARS Case 2021-D020) ↗ · final rule 2024-09-26 · effective 2024-10-01
- Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement; Technical Amendments ↗ · final rule 2024-07-29 · effective 2024-07-29
- Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Definition of Material Weakness (DFARS Case 2021-D006) ↗ · proposed 2024-06-27 · comments due 2024-08-26
- Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Preference for United States Vessels in Transporting Supplies by Sea (DFARS Case 2021-D020) ↗ · proposed 2024-04-25 · comments due 2024-06-24
Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.