The CAR establishes uniform acquisition policies and procedures that implement and supplement the FAR. If there is a discrepancy between the CAR and FAR, the FAR will take precedence.

The CAR is issued under the authority of section 22 of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act, as amended (41 U.S.C. 418b), and FAR Subpart 1.3 by the Department Procurement Executive pursuant to a delegation initiating from the Secretary of Commerce.

The CAR applies to all Department of Commerce (DOC) acquisitions as defined in part 2 of the FAR, except where expressly excluded.

(a) The CAR is published in the Federal Register, in cumulative form in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), and is available online at the U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Acquisition Management Web site.

(b) The CAR is issued as chapter 13 of title 48 of the CFR.

(a) General. The CAR is divided into the same parts, subparts, sections, and subsections as the FAR.

(b) Numbering. If the DOC does not have supplemental regulations there will be no corresponding coverage in the CAR, and there will be gaps in the CAR numbering system.

Copies of the FAR in CFR form may be purchased from the Bookstore of the Government Publishing Office (GPO), Washington, DC 20402.

(a) The designee authorized to prescribe the CAR is set forth in the Commerce Acquisition Manual (CAM) 1301.70.

(b) The DOC internal operating guidance and procedures are contained in the CAM and other policy guidance documents issued by the Procurement Executive relating to acquisitions. The DOC Contracting Offices may issue additional guidance and procedures.

(a) The CAR parallels the FAR in format, arrangement and numbering system. Coverage within the CAR is identified by the prefix “13” or “130” followed by the complete FAR citation to the subsection level (e.g., CAR coverage of FAR 1.602-1 is cited as 1301.602-1).

(b) Supplementary material without a FAR counterpart will be codified using 70 and up as appropriate for the part, subpart, section, or subsection number (e.g., part 1370, subpart 1301.70, section 1301.370 or subsection 1301.301-70).

The designee authorized to approve individual deviations from the FAR is set forth in CAM 1301.70.

The designee authorized to approve class deviations from the FAR is set forth in CAM 1301.70.

The agency head for procurement matters is the Chief Financial Officer/Assistant Secretary for Administration (CFO/ASA), unless prohibited by statute. The authority for agency head for procurement matters is delegated to the Procurement Executive as the authority to establish lines of contracting authority within DOC and to implement policies and procedures related to the acquisition process. Specific contracting authorities are set forth in CAM 1301.70.

In accordance with CAM 1301.70, only individuals who have been certified as contracting officers through issuance of a Certificate of Appointment by the Senior Bureau Procurement Official may exercise the authority of DOC contracting officers. In addition to the authority to enter into, administer, and terminate contracts, contracting officers have been delegated certain functions as set out in appendix A to CAM 1301.70.

Insert clause 1352.201-70, Contracting Officer's Authority, in all solicitations and contracts.

(a) Insert clause 1352.201-71, Ratification Release, in a contract document under which payment is made for unauthorized commitments after a ratification has been processed.

(b)(1) Unauthorized commitments occur when the Department accepts goods or services in the absence of an enforceable contract entered into by an authorized official. It is the policy of DOC that all acquisitions are to be made only by Government officials having authority to make such acquisitions. Acquisitions made by other than authorized personnel are contrary to Departmental policy and the Department is not bound by any formal or informal type of agreement or contractual commitment which is made by persons who are not delegated contracting authority. Payment for goods or services accepted in the absence of an authorized commitment may be made only through the ratification process. Unauthorized commitments may be considered matters of serious misconduct and may subject the responsible employees to appropriate disciplinary actions.

(2) The delegation of the ratification authority is set forth in CAM 1301.70. All requests for ratification must fully explain the circumstances that gave rise to the unauthorized commitment and detail, if appropriate, any disciplinary action taken with respect to any responsible employee. Ratifications may be approved only if all criteria in FAR 1.602-3 have been met.

Ratifications may not be approved unless the concurrence of Procurement Counsel is obtained.

The Department's procurement career management program and system for the selection, appointment, and termination of appointment of contracting officers are described in CAM 1301.6.

In addition to the criteria set forth in FAR 1.603-2, selection of contracting officers shall be based upon Section 4 of CAM 1301.6.

In addition to the criteria set forth in FAR 1.603-3, appointment of contracting officers shall be based upon Section 4 of CAM 1301.6.

In addition to the criteria set forth in FAR 1.603-4, termination of contracting officers shall be based upon Section 4 of CAM 1301.6.

The Department's Contracting Officer's Representative certification program for the nomination, appointment and cancellation of CORs is described in CAM 1301.670.

Insert clause 1352.201-72, Contracting Officer's Representative (COR), in all solicitations and contracts where a COR will be appointed.

The Department's Program and Project Manager certification program for the assignment and certification of Program and Project Managers is described in CAM 1301.671.

Signatory authority for determinations and findings (D&Fs) is specified in the FAR for the associated subject matter unless otherwise noted in CAM 1301.70.