 Some links will work for NIAID staff only.
|
This SOP has internal roles only.
Standard Operating Procedure Table of Contents
|
|
Purpose
To serve as an NIAID staff member who defines program requirements,
provides technical knowledge in the negotiation and
administration of government contracts,and monitors technical aspects
of contracts.
Procedure
Training
Project
officers must take training to learn their roles in
government contracting. They are required to successfully complete at least 40 hours of training in project management or other job-specific courses every two years.
The Federal Acquisition Institute offers Acquisition Learning Opportunities. FAI already has free courses online that meet the requirement. To register, login, or take a tour, go to FAI Online University. Once you're signed in, go to the Learning Center area to sign up for the "COTR Module 1 Orientation" and "COTR Module 2 Acquisition" courses.
The Department strongly encourages all project officers to take the Early Warning Project Management System Workshop or an equivalent course. See the Office of Acquisition Management and Policy's list of HHS project officer training courses.
NIAID also offers NIAID Extramural Staff Training, which hosts both online classes and classroom sessions for ESA credit.
The NIH Head of Contracting Activity (HCA) determines course equivalency. Under urgent circumstances, project officers can obtain a waiver from the HCA. See HHSAR 307.170, Program Training Requirements.
Roles
Project officers have a broad range of roles from developing concepts
for RFPs through providing technical oversight of contracts. They
cannot
change any terms or conditions of contracts. Contracting
officers sign the contract on behalf of the
government and bear the
legal responsibility for the contract. They alone can enter into,
modify,
terminate, or change a contractual commitment on behalf of the government.
To help ensure that project officers perform their jobs within legal
limits, they will receive and sign a designation
memo detailing their roles and responsibilities for
every new contract they are assigned. They must also submit an annual
update of this designation.
Before award
After award
- Act as the government's technical representative for monitoring
and evaluating technical performance of contractors.
- Keep contracting officers informed of contractor performance
and progress.
-
Prepare written evaluations of contractor performance.
- Ensure compliance with contract provisions and laws and
report any deviations to contracting officers.
- Ensure that contracting officers receive copies of reports for
the official contract file, such as technical progress reports
submitted by the contractor and project officer reports documenting
technical progress.
- Notify contractors of the acceptability of technical progress.
- Document site visits.
- Review contractor's invoices to ensure that they
accurately reflect the work completed in accordance with the requirements
of the contract and certify acceptance of invoices.
- Recommend to the contracting officer approval or disapproval
of the contractor's requests for subcontracts, travel, equipment,
changes to
delivery schedules, increases in funding, or changes to the terms and conditions of the contract.
Contacts
See the Office of Acquisitions staff listing for the appropriate contract specialist.
Staff should check the class
schedules on the HHS University Web site. Enroll
through NIH's APO Coordinator.
If you have knowledge to share or want more information on this topic, email deaweb@niaid.nih.gov with the title of this page or its URL and your question or comment. Thanks for helping us clarify and expand our knowledge base.
Links
HHS KnowNet, Acquisitions
NIAID Projects
by Division, Obligated Dollars, SAISB query tool
NIAID Projects
by Program Class Code, Obligated Dollars, SAISB query tool
NIH
Manual Chapter 6015-2, Past Performance Information
NIH
Manual Chapter 6315-1, Review and Evaluation of R&D Contract
Proposals
NIH
Manual Chapter 6332-9, Receipt, Processing, and Payment of Invoice
and Contract Financing Requests for Research Contracts
Temporary Waiver
of Project Officer's Training Requirement
Project Concept for Contracts SOP
Contract Funding
and End-of-Year Timelines and Processes SOP
Contract Monitoring SOP
Contracting Officer SOP
Independent
Government Cost Estimate SOP
Peer Review of R&D Contract Technical Proposals SOP
Project Officer's Technical Questionnaire, NIH Form 2497
Request for Proposals SOP
Scientific
Initiative Management System (SIMS) SOP | 
