§ 970.7102 - DOE responsibility.

(a) In the Department of Energy, overall responsibility for the oversight of the performance of management and operating contractors, including their purchasing activities, rests with the cognizant DOE contracting activity and, in particular, the Head of the Contracting Activity (HCA). Contracting officers are responsible for management and operating contractors’ conformance with this subpart and their contracts, and for determining whether those purchasing activities provide timely and effective support to DOE programs.

(b) In carrying out their overall responsibilities, HCAs shall:

(1) Require management and operating contractors to maintain written descriptions of their individual purchasing systems and methods and further require that, upon award or extension of the contract, the entire written description be submitted to the contracting officer for review and acceptance;

(2) Require that any changes to the management and operating contractor's written description having any substantive impact upon the contractor's purchasing system and methods be submitted to the contracting officer for review and acceptance prior to issuance;

(3) Ensure review of individual purchasing actions of certain types or above stated dollar levels by the contracting officer pursuant to 48 CFR (FAR) 44.2 or as set forth in the contractor's approved system and methods; and

(4) Ensure that periodic appraisals (e.g. Contractor Purchasing System Review (CPSR) and Surveillance Review) of the contractor's management of all facets of the purchasing function are performed by the contracting officer in accordance with established policies. (See 970.7103).

(c) In performing the reviews required by paragraphs (b) (1) and (2) and the appraisals of paragraph (b)(4) of this section, HCAs shall assure that contracting officers determine that the contractors’ written systems and methods are consistent with this subpart and the provisions of their contracts.