subpart 244.3--contractors' purchasing systems reviews

(Revised January 24, 2008)

 

 

 244.301 Objective.
 244.303 Extent of review.
 244.304 Surveillance.
 244.305 Granting, withholding, or withdrawing approval.
 244.305-70 Granting, withholding, or withdrawing approval.


244.301  Objective.

The administrative contracting officer (ACO) is solely responsible for initiating reviews of the contractor's purchasing systems, but other organizations may request that the ACO initiate such reviews.

 

244.303  Extent of review.

Also review the adequacy of rationale documenting commercial item determinations to ensure compliance with the definition of “commercial item” in FAR 2.101.

 

244.304  Surveillance.

 

      (b)  The ACO, or the purchasing system analyst (PSA) with the concurrence of the ACO, may initiate a special review of specific weaknesses in the contractor's purchasing system.  See PGI 244.304(b) (Pop-up Window or PGI Viewer Mode) for guidance on how weaknesses may arise and may be discovered. 

 

244.305  Granting, withholding, or withdrawing approval.

 

244.305-70  Granting, withholding, or withdrawing approval.

Use this subsection instead of FAR 44.305-2(c) and 44.305-3(b).

 

      (a)  At the completion of the in-plant portion of the review, the ACO shall hold an exit conference with the contractor.  At the conference, the ACO should—

 

              (1)  Present the review team's recommendations, signed by the ACO;

 

              (2)  Request the contractor submit its plan for correcting deficiencies or making improvements within 15 days; and

 

              (3)  Not comment on the pending or planned decision to grant or withhold approval of the contractor's purchasing system.

 

      (b)  The PSA should submit the complete report to the ACO, or any department or agency established review board, within ten days after receipt of the contractor's response under paragraph (a)(2) of this subsection.

 

      (c)  The ACO should completely review the report and consider the contractor's response before making a decision on granting, withholding, or withdrawing purchasing system approval.  The ACO shall notify the contractor of the decision within ten days after receipt of the report with a copy of the decision to the PSA and the contracting office, when requested.

 

      (d)  When a contractor advises that it has corrected deficiencies that led the ACO to withhold or withdraw the purchasing system approval, the ACO—

 

              (1)  Shall request the PSA to verify that the contractor has—

 

                    (i)  Corrected the deficiencies; and

 

                    (ii)  Implemented any other ACO recommendations.

 

              (2)  Should ask for a review of purchasing policies and procedures issued since the last review.