COR - Appointment and Certification Procedures

The Contracting Officer’s Representative is a critical position in the management of Federal contracts. The Office of Federal Procurement Policy has set forth guidelines and policy for all Federal Agencies and the Department of Defense.

Overview of COR Guidance and Training

DOI CORs (IBC or Office of the Secretary)

IBC's Bureau Procurement Chief will issue all certifications through the Acquisition and Property Management Office (PAM). After the Bureau Chief receives a complete application, your certification will be issued for IBC/OS COR candidates.

DOI CORs (outside of IBC or OS)

Please contact your Bureau Procurement Chief (BPC) who will be your certification official. Once the completed paperwork is sent to the AQD Contracting Officer, your COR certificate will be issued. For assistance in locating your BPC e-mail us.

Civilian Agency CORs (outside DOI)

CORs must be FAC-COR certified and the certification must come from your funding agency. The AQD Contracting Officer will appoint you as COR after verifying your FAC-COR certification.

DoD CORs

DoD has opted out of the FAC-COR requirement. Therefore, you as a DoD representative, seeking COR appointment, do not need to be FAC-COR certified. Certification will be made through our own AQD internal process. Please contact us.

Training Requirements

For FAC-COR certification, individuals must initially complete COR training not more than two years prior to certification. The Department of Interior, Acquisition Services Directorate can no longer certify training for CORs. As directed by the Office of Federal Procurement Policy, individual agencies have the responsibility of FAC-COR certification for their own employees.

COR Appointment

COR candidates will be appointed to a specific contract/order at the discretion of the AQD Contracting Officer. Appointments will not be made until candidates comply with FAC-COR certification training requirements and send a copy of their agency issued FAC-COR Certificate. The Contracting Officer will issue an appointment letter to document the candidate’s FAC-COR designation.

Certification Expiration:

FAC-COR Certificates expire after two years. To be recertified, appropriate refresher training must be completed and the FAC-COR certificate submitted to AQD. It is imperative that sufficient time is provided to avoid any lapse in certification. Please note the following:

  • AQD may elect to terminate a COR appointment if, during the performance period of a contract, the COR’s certification expires.

  • AQD will terminate an appointment if the COR’s performance does not adequately protect the government’s best interests.

  • The AQD Contracting Officer has the authority to revoke the COR appointment at any time.

COR - Client Agency Roles and Responsibilities

Contracting Officer's Representatives have an important role in the administration and technical oversight of the Acquisition Services Directorate contracts. The Office of Management and Budget has developed a Government-wide standard for certifying Contracting Officer’s Representatives. COR candidates are required to meet specific training requirements to become certified. Only certified CORs are eligible to perform associated duties in support of AQD contracts. To meet this regulatory requirement, and in support of our procurement partnership, your agency must:


  • Recommend a Federal employee from your agency to be the COR.

  • Obtain FAC-COR certification from your agency FAC-COR Program Coordinator. The AQD Contracting Officer will appoint the individual once FAC-COR certification is verified. Please ask for a sample appointment letter that defines the COR’s responsibilities.

  • Include the certified COR’s and designated alternate’s name, address, voice/fax number and e-mail address on the POC information template and funding document.

  • Maintain COR certification by completing required training and providing AQD with a FAC-COR Certificate.

  • Immediately recommend a replacement FAC-COR certified COR as necessary (as a result of retirement, transfer, loss of certification, appointment termination).

  • Ensure the appointed COR provides prompt invoice approvals. For invoice disputes, immediate reporting is required by e-mailing us. Please note that the Prompt Payment Act statute requires Federal agencies to pay invoices in a timely manner. Interest penalties caused by COR delay are paid with client agency funding.

  • Notify AQD when the primary COR will be absent for more than 30 days and require the designated alternate COR approve invoices when the primary COR is temporarily out of the office. The AQD Contracting Officer may replace the appointed COR at their discretion.

  • As a Receiving Official or FAC certified COR, part of that duty could encompass being an Assessing Official Representative (AOR) within CPARS responsible for assessing the contractor’s performance. As of October 1, 2010, use of CPARS became mandatory in DOI for all actions estimated to be greater than the SAT for Supplies and Services. It is a system that has been used in DOD for years and the Naval Sea Logistics Center Detachment Portsmouth (NAVSEA) has system administration responsibilities. For further information, please read the CPARS Overview (one-page pdf, 27 kb).

Please e-mail us for any additional information you may need.