A contracting officer (often abbreviated as KO in the US Army[1] or CO in the US Air Force[2]) is a person who can bind the Federal Government of the United States to a contract which is greater in value than the federal micro-purchase threshold ($10,000 for supplies, in most circumstances).
[3] This is limited to the scope of authority delegated to the contracting officer by the head of the agency.
A contracting officer enters into, administers, or terminates contracts and makes related determinations and findings, and is appointed by a (SF) 1402, Certificate of Appointment.
Subsection 414(4) of Title 41, United States Code, requires agency heads to establish and maintain a procurement career management program and a system for the selection, appointment, and termination of appointment of contracting officers.
These selections and appointments shall be consistent with the Office of Management and Budget/Office of Federal Procurement Policy's (OFPP) standards for skill-based training in performing acquisition, contracting and procurement duties as published in OFPP Policy Letter No.