Contracting Officer Warrant Program

Philadelphia, PA 19107

GSA ORDER

Subject:          Mid-Atlantic Region - Contracting Officer Warrant Program

1. Purpose: This Order reissues Federal Acquisition Regulation, General Services Acquisition Manual, and related General Services Administration procedures and guidelines for the continued effective operation of the regional Contracting Officer Warrant Program (COWP) Board. GSA's COWP establishes criteria for the selection, appointment, and termination of appointment of GSA contracting officers. It ensures that a GSA organization has qualified individuals as contracting officers who meet the organization's needs for contracting authority. Factors considered in determining the number of contracting officers appropriate for a given organization include volume of actions, work complexity, and organizational structure. The COWP Board provides direction from its members to Mid-Atlantic Region activities with candidates for warrant authority.
2. Authority: Pursuant to GSA Order ADM 5450.160, dated August 30, 2012 set forth updated Head of Contracting Activity responsibilities within all GSA regions and delegation guidelines.
3. Objectives: The regional COWP Board will receive, evaluate, and approve or deny requests for Certificate of Appointment for Contracting Officers at the basic, simplified acquisition, intermediate, and senior levels. The COWP Board will advise the Head of Contracting Activity on related acquisition management issues.
4. Program Guidelines:
   1. The COWP Board shall consist of:
      1. Chairperson at the GS-13/14 level or above
      2. A total of six (6) Supervisory personnel at the GS13/14 level or above representing the contracting/ procurement/ training related functions within the Federal Acquisition Service and the Public Buildings Service will participate as voting members.
      3. Representatives of the Office of General Counsel and Regional Human Resource Office at the GS-13 level or above will participate as voting members.
      4. A Representative from the Office of Government-wide Policy must serve as a member of each Board.
   2. The Board members and Chairperson are appointed by Head of the Contracting Activity (HCA).
   3. A list of appointees will be maintained by the Chairperson and located on 
      Region 3 InSite under the Contracting Officer Warrant Program Link.
5. Operational procedures:
   1. Definitions:
      1. The HCA of the Mid-Atlantic Region is the Regional Administrator (3A).
      2. The COWP Board Chairperson serves as the primary point of contact to regional and central office program offices and maintains Regional electronic database and hardcopy file for all warranted contracting officers.
      3. The nominating official will be the candidate's immediate supervisor with the Director of the service's approval.
      4. All nominated candidate credentials will be evaluated by the Board Chairperson prior to submission to the board members
   2. Appointment: (GSAM 501-603-3)
      1. Nominating officials shall request warrants by submitting a GSA Form 3409, Personal Qualifications Statement for Appointment as Contracting Officer, GSA Form 3410, Request for Appointment to the Warrant Board Chairperson
      2. The GSA Form 3409 should be accompanied by all training certificates for all training courses relevant to type and level of warrant being requested and official college transcripts or copies (indicating deferred status), if applicable. The GSA Form 3410 should identify workload requirements, justify need for warrant type and level being requested and work experience up to and including the last 10 years.
      3. Prior to processing and forwarding to the COWB, the Chairperson will review GSA Forms 3409 and 3410 as well as relevant documentation to ensure applicant meets all training, experience and education requirements for the level and type of warrant being requested. An application not meeting all requirements will be returned to the nominating official with a detailed justification.
      4. All GS-1102's arc required to be certified under the Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C) program prior to issuance if warrant. All non-1102's requesting a warrant authority must meet the policy requirements set forth in the Acquisition Letter V-06-06 and all supplements that follow. All applicants must provide a complete package for an appointment.
      5. Warrant Board Chairperson will enter employee into the Regional Electronic Database and maintain a hardcopy file for all warranted contracting officers. All employees must be registered in the Federal Acquisition Institute Training Application System (FAITAS).
   3. Terminations: (GSAM 501.603-4)
      1. Warrants are automatically terminated when a contracting officer resigns, transfers to another agency or is reassigned to other duties other than contracting in GSA, or the appointment is otherwise no longer required.
      2. Supervisors are responsible for notifying the COWP Board Chairperson, in writing, when warrants are no longer required due to reasons noted above or by a change in the organization needs.
      3. Certificate of Appointments must be returned to the COWP Board Chairperson to ensure proper termination procedures are completed.
      4. Limitations: This authority shall not be re-delegated.
      5. Implementing Actions: The Regional Commissioners for the Federal Acquisition Service and the Public Buildings Service and other appropriate officials shall take necessary action to implement this order.

Sara Manzano-Dia Regional Administrator

GSA Mid-Atlantic on