SpendQueryBeta

FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 42: Contract Administration and Audit Services › Subpart 42.4

FAR 42.401 Contract correspondence.

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 how correspondence about assigned contract administration functions should flow between the contracting officer, the contract administration office (CAO), and the contractor. It matters because it tells contractors and agency personnel which office normally sends and receives contract-related correspondence, and when direct contact is allowed.

Applies to: Contracting officers, other contracting agency personnel, and the contract administration office (CAO)

What it requires

  • Forward correspondence relating to assigned contract administration functions through the cognizant contract administration office (CAO) to the contractor
  • Provide a copy of that correspondence for the CAO's file
  • When urgency requires sending correspondence directly to the contractor, send a copy concurrently to the CAO
  • The CAO shall send the contracting office a copy of pertinent correspondence conducted between the CAO and the contractor

Key terms: contracting officer · contract administration office (CAO) · assigned contract administration functions · correspondence · contracting office

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

The text

(a) The contracting officer (or other contracting agency personnel) normally shall (1) forward correspondence relating to assigned contract administration functions through the cognizant contract administration office (CAO) to the contractor and (2) provide a copy for the CAO's file. When urgency requires sending such correspondence directly to the contractor, a copy shall be sent concurrently to the CAO.

(b) The CAO shall send the contracting office a copy of pertinent correspondence conducted between the CAO and the contractor.

← 42.302 Contract administration functions. · 42.402 Visits to contractors' facilities. →

Rule changes for FAR Part 42

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

FAR 42.401 Contract correspondence · SpendQuery