DHS Delegation Number 0200.1, Delegation to the Directorate of Management, delegates authority from the Secretary to the Under Secretary of Management to manage the acquisition function. DHS Delegation 0700, Delegation to the Chief Procurement Officer for Acquisition and Financial Assistance Management, delegates this authority from the Under Secretary of Management to the Chief Procurement Officer.

DHS policy requires that acquisitions be made only by Government officials having authority to enter into such acquisitions. Acquisitions made by other than authorized personnel are contrary to Departmental policy and may be considered matters of serious misconduct on the part of an employee making an unauthorized commitment, and may result in disciplinary action being taken against an employee who makes an unauthorized commitment.

Under DHS Delegations, the Heads of the Contracting Activity (HCA), with authority to redelegate no lower than the Chief of the Contracting Office (COCO), are authorized to select and appoint contracting officers and terminate their appointment.