Contract administration includes the activities that are performed by government officials after the parties award a contract to be sure how well the government and the contractor meet the requirements of this contract. It controls those dealings between the government and the contractor starting from the time the contract is awarded and finishing with the time the work is completed and accepted by the customer or the time the contract is terminated and the payment is made. “As such, contract administration constitutes that primary part of the procurement process that assures the government gets what it paid for” (OFPP, 1994).
Contract administration focuses on supplying its clients with certain services or goods which are of requisite quality, on time and within the customers' budget.
The specific nature of contract administration varies from contract to contract. It can range from the minimum acceptance of a delivery and payment to the contractor to extensive involvement by program, audit and procurement officials throughout the contract term. Contract administration starts with developing clear, concise performance based statements of work to the extent possible, and preparing a contract administration plan that cost effectively measures the contractor's performance and provides documentation to pay accordingly. (OFPP, 1994)
Good contract administration makes sure that its clients are satisfied with the product or service that they obtain via the contract. To make it possible, contract administration involves contracting officers and the administrator. CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION AND CHANGE ISSUES 3
The importance of roles and responsibilities of contracting officers and administrator
Contracting officers are the U.S. military officers or civilian workers who have the right to enter into and manage contracts and determinations along with findings about such contracts.
Contracting officers take the next responsibilities. They are responsible for making sure the performance of all necessary actions take place so that the contracting is effective, they are responsible for “ensuring the terms of the contract and guarding the interests of the U.S. in its contractual relationships” (FAR, 2012). Contracting officers make sure that contractors get impartial, fair and equitable treatment. They request and consider the advice of specialists in audit, law, engineering, information security, transportation, etc. A contracting officer is responsible for making any determination or findings that may be required in connection with the procurement, ensuring that all statutory and regulatory requirements that apply to the procurement have been identified and observed, ensuring that all necessary preconditions to contract award have been satisfied before the contract is awarded, maintaining the contract file, which serves as the repository for all required documentation concerning the procurement and any resulting contracts.
The importance of role of a contracting officer is that only he or she has the authority to award, modify, or terminate contracts.
Another important role in contract administration is the …