1.603-3  Appointment.

(S-90)  Unlimited appointments.

(1)  A candidate seeking an unlimited contracting officer appointment must successfully complete a contracting officer appointment test (see DARS 1.603-3(S-91)) prior to going before a contracting officer appointment review board. If the candidate previously successfully completed a contracting officer appointment test in obtaining a DISA limited contracting officer appointment, the candidate does not have to re-take the test.

(2)  A formal contracting officer appointment review board shall be conducted to determine if the candidate is qualified for appointment as a contracting officer with an unlimited appointment. The review board will be chaired by either the PLD Director or the PLD Deputy Director. In addition to the review board chairperson, the review board shall also include, at a minimum, the candidate's HCO (or acting HCO) and a representative from the DISA Legal Office and the PLD Policy, Quality Assurance and Procedures Division (PL2). Additional board members (e.g., senior contracting officers, cost/price analysts, program management and/or financial management personnel) may also be included at the discretion of the review board chairperson.

(3)  The contracting officer appointment review board may discuss the qualifications of the candidate with the HCO prior to formally convening the review board.

(4)  The contracting officer appointment review board may be conducted either face-to-face or via VTC at the discretion of the review board chairperson.

(5)  During the contracting officer appointment review board, the candidate will be presented with a series of scenario-based questions on various acquisition topics. The candidate will then discuss in depth and/or answer questions on the acquisition topics posed by the review board members. At the conclusion of the contracting officer appointment review board, the review board chairperson will provide the review board's recommendation to the HCA on the requested appointment.

(S-91)  Limited appointments.

(1)  Candidates for limited contracting officer appointments shall be required to successfully complete a time limited, proctored, computer examination to assess contracting knowledge and research ability. CMCA, purchase card, and FTS 2001/Networx contracting officer appointments are exempt from the testing requirements. In addition, a contracting officer with a limited appointment who has previously successfully completed the contracting officer appointment test does not have to retake the test to qualify for an increased limited appointment. However, a contracting officer with a limited appointment who has not previously successfully completed the contracting officer appointment test does have to take the test to qualify for an increased limited appointment.

(2)  The contracting officer appointment test is open-book/open-computer with access to the FAR, DFARS and DARS, but assistance to the candidate taking the test by another individual or group is not permitted. The candidate may use formally published contracting materials, but shall not use informal training material or notes. The candidate shall be given seven hours over the course of one day to complete the test (two one hour and forty five minute sessions in the morning and two one hour and forty five minute sessions in the afternoon). A candidate must score an 85% (68 points out of 80 possible points) or better to pass the test. A passing score does not guarantee a contracting officer appointment.

(3)  Each test shall be comprised of 40 true-false, multiple-choice, and fill-in-the-blank questions pertaining to the FAR, DFARS, and DARS. Ten questions will be provided for completion in each of the four one hour and forty five minute sessions. The test shall consist of 30 questions from the following sections of the FAR, DFARS and DARS.

Required Questions

The remaining 10 questions will be from specific sections of the FAR, DFARS, or DARS as dictated by the type of work for which the contracting officer appointment will be used.

(4)  Test results shall be provided to the candidate, the candidate's immediate supervisor, the HCO and the HCA.

(5)  On a case-by-case basis, the HCA may allow accommodations for special needs employees to include relaxation of the seven hour time limit to complete the test, or accommodations for employees with visual or mobility issues, or those requiring voice-assisted software, etc.

(6)  If the candidate correctly answers both the question and the reference indicating where the candidate found the answer, then the candidate shall be granted two points. If the candidate answers the question correctly, but answers the reference incorrectly, the candidate shall be granted one point. If the candidate answers the question incorrectly, but answers the reference correctly, the candidate shall not be granted any points. In this last scenario, an incorrect answer but where the candidate correctly answered the reference demonstrates the candidate did not understand the regulation and, therefore, shall not be granted any points. The following illustrates the scoring methodology:

References shall be provided to the lowest possible level as illustrated below. Subdivisions below the paragraph level (e.g. FAR 15.403-1(c)(1)(i)(A) ) are acceptable, but are not required.

(7)  PL23 shall be responsible for maintenance of PLD test questions. Test questions residing within the test question database shall be maintained by PL23, including addition/deletion of questions and modifications to existing questions and/or references as dictated by publication of new policy.

(8)  Each HCO shall appoint a test administrator to construct, schedule, and proctor the computer-based contracting officer appointment test for their candidates. The electronic version of the contracting officer appointment test shall remain in the possession of the test administrator who is accountable and responsible for ensuring the test remains secure, so as not to invalidate the contracting officer appointment testing process/program. Candidates are prohibited from duplicating or discussing the questions with others, so as not to compromise the integrity of the testing process.

(9)  The test administrator is responsible for scoring and validating test results, manually adjusting the test score, as appropriate, and identifying to PL23 when test question/database maintenance is required. The candidate may dispute the accuracy of the test questions and/or reference to the test administrator. If the test question or reference was in error, the test administrator shall manually adjust the test score.

(10)  Candidates may retake the test a second time as early as the next scheduled test. Candidates who do not pass after two attempts may retake after 60 days. The HCA may waive the retesting time.

(11)  Upon successful completion of the test, the HCO will provide the HCA and PL23 with the test results and the HCO will request the HCA approve the contracting officer appointment request and sign the SF 1402.

(S-92)  Changed appointments.

(1)  A changed appointment is an appointment revised to reflect new information on the face of the SF 1402. Such changes may be accomplished at any time based upon the request of an HCO, or if directed by the HCA. A change to an appointment may either be fundamental or administrative in nature. A "fundamental" change represents a change to the scope of the contracting officer's responsibility and authority as reflected by a change to the limitations presented on the face of the SF 1402. Any other change shall normally be viewed as an "administrative" change. Examples of administrative changes are those that correct spelling, punctuation, or any wording on the face of the SF 1402 (e.g., reflecting a name change due to marriage) without changing the force and effect of the appointment.

(i)  A fundamental change to an appointment shall be viewed and processed as a new appointment concurrent with termination of the existing appointment. All documentation required to support a new appointment is required to support a fundamental change to an existing appointment.

(ii)  Upon written request of an HCO to PL23, an administrative change may be accomplished to an existing appointment via simplified procedures tailored to fit the specific need. All administrative changes to an SF 1402 will require termination of the existing appointment and approval and issuance of a new SF 1402 by the HCA.

(S-93)  Presentation of certificates of appointment.

The HCA approves all requests for appointment, termination, and reissuance and signs all contracting officer appointment certificates. The HCA, or designee, shall meet with each newly appointed contracting officer. This meeting shall emphasize the duties inherent with a contracting officer appointment, including fiduciary and ethical responsibilities. The HCA shall provide the new contracting officer clear instructions regarding the limits of their authority.

(S-94)  Administration of appointments.

(1)  Each SF 1402 will be sequentially numbered by calendar year. PL23 will maintain the master contracting officer records (e.g., Applications for Appointment as a Contracting Officer, test results, contracting officer appointment board review results and copies of SF 1402s) to document the candidate meets the required training, education, and experience requirements.

(2)  PL23 will maintain an electronic contracting officer database on the DITCO Intranet web site and validate the accuracy of the database information at least annually.

(3)  Contracting officers must ensure the original SF 1402 is prominently displayed in the immediate work area. The SF 1402 will be made available to company/contractor representatives for viewing upon request.