Capability

COR Authority, Limits, and Records

A Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) works from a designation letter written for one contract. The FAR states what that letter has to include.

By Joary Khairudin-Casey, Founder · Principal Consultant · September 20, 2026 · Long Read · 6 min

A designation letter states what a Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) may do on one specific contract, what the COR may not do, how long the designation lasts, and that the COR can be personally liable for acting outside it. Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 1.602-2(d) requires that letter in writing on every contract and order other than firm-fixed-price and on firm-fixed-price work where the contracting officer decides it's appropriate unless the contracting officer retains the COR duties. Copies go to the contractor and to the contract administration office.

Every agency writes its designation letters differently. In class I go through the sections they have in common.

The Designation

FAR 1.602-2(d)(7) states what the letter has to say. The letter specifies the extent of the COR's authority to act for the contracting officer, identifies the limits on that authority, gives the period the designation is in effect, says the authority is not redelegable, and names the COR's possible personal liability for unauthorized acts.

FAR 1.602-2(d)(1) through (d)(3) set three requirements for the person designated. A COR is a Government employee unless agency regulations authorize otherwise, is certified and maintains that certification under the current Office of Management and Budget memorandum on the Federal Acquisition Certification for Contracting Officer Representatives (FAC-COR), and is qualified by training and experience for the responsibilities being delegated. The nomination comes from the requiring activity or through agency procedures.

The designation section names the contract. Agency letters name items such as the number, what it buys, the contractor, and the period of performance. FAR 1.602-2(d) requires the contracting officer to designate a COR on contracts and orders. A COR working several contracts has a letter for each. Agency letters commonly add an acknowledgment copy for your signature.

The Authority

The authority section commonly lists work such as this:

  • Technical verification. You confirm that the contractor performs the technical requirements against the contract's terms, conditions, and specifications including the quality provisions and the contractor's quality control program.
  • Inspection and acceptance. You perform or arrange the inspections that verification requires, verify that the contractor corrected the deficiencies, and accept services for the Government.
  • Communication. You maintain direct communication with the contractor, sign written communications as “Contracting Officer's Representative,” and furnish a copy to the contracting officer.
  • Surveillance reporting. You notify the contractor of deficiencies found during surveillance, direct correction, and report faulty work, delays, and problems to the contracting officer. Some letters add a recurring performance report.
  • Site access and property. You coordinate site entry for contractor personnel and confirm that Government furnished property is available when the contract requires it.

A contracting officer may assign a COR some of the contract administration duties at FAR 42.302. A contracting officer may not delegate to a COR functions that have already gone to a contract administration office under FAR 42.202. That limit is in FAR 1.602-2(d)(4).

The Limits

FAR 1.602-2(d)(5) states that a COR has no authority to make commitments or changes that affect price, quality, quantity, delivery, or other terms and conditions of the contract and no authority to direct the contractor or its subcontractors to operate in conflict with the contract terms.

Agency letters add limits such as these:

  • A COR does not award, agree to, or sign a contract, an order, or a modification.
  • A COR does not obligate the Government to pay money.
  • A COR does not take action that changes schedule, funds, or scope.
  • A COR does not redelegate the authority.
  • A COR does not authorize a contractor to begin work.

Surveillance

FAR 46.401(a) says a quality assurance surveillance plan (QASP) should be prepared along with the statement of work and that the plan should specify all work requiring surveillance and the method of surveillance. You monitor against that plan.

  • Observations. FAR 46.401(f) requires Government inspection to be documented on an inspection or receiving report form under agency procedures. Agency letters add mechanics such as a surveillance checklist, a written note of what you observed, and the contractor's initials on that note.
  • Deductions. Under the Inspection of Services clause used in fixed-price service contracts (FAR 52.246-4), the Government may require a contractor to perform nonconforming services again at no increase in price. Where reperformance cannot correct the defect, the Government may reduce the contract price to reflect the reduced value of the services performed. You recommend the amount and show the contracting officer the calculation. Only the contracting officer takes formal action against the contractor.
  • Contract discrepancy report. Some contracts add a contract discrepancy report. You prepare it and the contracting officer reviews it, signs it, and sends it. The signed report and the surveillance record support payment, nonpayment, or another action.

The File

Every assigned contract needs a COR file. FAR 1.604 sets three items at a minimum: the contracting officer's letter of designation and other documents describing the COR's duties, a copy of the contract administration functions delegated to a contract administration office that may not be delegated to the COR, and documentation of the COR actions taken under the delegation.

Agency lists add items such as the contract and every modification, the QASP, correspondence about performance, records of inspections and their results, minutes from the pre-performance conference and from later meetings with the contractor, quality control records, the approved surveillance schedule, and the names and position titles of the people on the contract administration team. My COR file checklist lists each item with the authority for it.

Turnover

FAR 1.602-2(d)(7)(iii) requires the letter to give the period the designation is in effect. Agency letters add turnover items such as these:

  • Advance notice. Your supervisor tells the contracting officer when you transfer, are reassigned, or will be away long enough that someone else has to do the work.
  • Written termination. A designation ends in writing with an effective date.
  • Records. When a designation is revoked mid-contract, your records go to the successor COR or you ask the contracting officer for disposition instructions. At completion, the records go to the contracting officer for the contract file.

Ethics

The ethics section commonly asks you to report a financial interest that could set your private interests against the public interest and to avoid the appearance of a conflict. Agency standards of conduct add the rest: gifts, outside employment, use of Government property, and debts owed to companies that do business with the Government.

Citations and Deviations

The current FAR reflects Federal Acquisition Circular 2026-01 (effective 03-13-2026). The citations in this post are 1.602-2(d) for the designation, 1.604 for the file, 42.302 for the administration duties a contracting officer may assign, and 42.202 for the functions that go to a contract administration office.

If your letter cites FAR 1.603 as the authority for the designation, that is the section on selecting, appointing, and terminating appointments for contracting officers. The authority for designating a COR is 1.602-2(d).

In the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul proposed rule published 06-23-2026, 1.602-2(d) would be updated to 1.404. There's no final rule yet. Until there is, 1.602-2(d) and 1.604 are the numbers to cite. Your agency's class deviations decide which ones apply to you.

If you have a designation letter, it's worth reading closely.