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FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 50: Extraordinary Contractual Actions and the Safety Act › Subpart 50.1

FAR 50.102-1 Delegation of 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 explains how an agency head may delegate authority under Pub. L. 85-804 and E.O. 10789, and sets limits on how far down that authority can go. It matters to contractors because it determines who within an agency can approve certain actions, such as obligating the Government above $90,000 or approving price increases without consideration.

Applies to: Agency heads and officials exercising authority under Pub. L. 85-804 and E.O. 10789

What it requires

  • Delegate authority in writing
  • Delegate to a level high enough to ensure uniformity of action
  • Do not delegate authority to approve obligations over $90,000 below the secretarial level
  • Do not delegate authority to approve any amendment without consideration that increases the contract price or unit price below the secretarial level, except in extraordinary cases or classes of cases when the agency head finds that special circumstances clearly justify such delegation

Key terms: delegate · agency head · secretarial level · obligate the Government · indemnify

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

The text

An agency head may delegate in writing authority under Pub. L. 85-804 and E.O. 10789, subject to the following limitations:

(a) Authority delegated shall be to a level high enough to ensure uniformity of action.

(b) Authority to approve requests to obligate the Government in excess of $90,000 may not be delegated below the secretarial level.

(c) Regardless of dollar amount, authority to approve any amendment without consideration that increases the contract price or unit price may not be delegated below the secretarial level, except in extraordinary cases or classes of cases when the agency head finds that special circumstances clearly justify such delegation.

(d) Regardless of dollar amount, authority to indemnify against unusually hazardous or nuclear risks, including extension of such indemnification to subcontracts, shall be exercised only by the Secretary or Administrator of the agency concerned, the Public Printer, or the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority (see 50.104-3).

Sections it refers to

  • 50.104-3 Special procedures for unusually hazardous or nuclear risks.

Sections that refer to it

← 50.102 Delegation of and limitations on exercise of authority. · 50.102-2 Contract adjustment boards. →

Rule changes for FAR Part 50

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

FAR 50.102-1 Delegation of authority · SpendQuery