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FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 33: Protests, Disputes, and Appeals › Subpart 33.2

FAR 33.210 Contracting officer's authority.

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 gives contracting officers the authority to decide or resolve most claims under a contract, and to use alternative dispute resolution (ADR) procedures. However, that authority does not cover claims for penalties or forfeitures that another agency handles, or any claim involving fraud.

Applies to: Contracting officers handling claims under government contracts

Key terms: contracting officer · claims · Disputes statute · ADR procedures · fraud

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

The text

Except as provided in this section, contracting officers are authorized, within any specific limitations of their warrants, to decide or resolve all claims arising under or relating to a contract subject to the Disputes statute. In accordance with agency policies and 33.214, contracting officers are authorized to use ADR procedures to resolve claims. The authority to decide or resolve claims does not extend to—

(a) A claim or dispute for penalties or forfeitures prescribed by statute or regulation that another Federal agency is specifically authorized to administer, settle, or determine; or

(b) The settlement, compromise, payment or adjustment of any claim involving fraud.

Sections it refers to

  • 33.214 Alternative dispute resolution (ADR).

← 33.209 Suspected fraudulent claims. · 33.211 Contracting officer's decision. →

Rule changes for FAR Part 33

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

FAR 33.210 Contracting officer's authority · SpendQuery