5306.304 Approval of the Justification
(a)
Justification Value |
Approval Authority |
Delegability |
---|---|---|
< $750K |
Chief of the Contracting Office |
Delegable to contracting officer, consistent with warrant level |
> $750K < $15M |
Procuring Activity Competition and Commercial Advocate |
Not further delegable |
> $15M < $100M |
PEO / Head of Procuring Activity* |
Delegable to Flag/General Officer or civilian SES |
> $100M** |
Senior Procurement Executive |
Not further delegable |
* For the Air Force, in accordance with FAR 2.101, procuring activity is synonymous with contracting activity.
**J&As for actions exceeding $100M must be coordinated with the DAS(C) or the ADAS(C) and approved by the SPE. The contracting officer must submit justifications requiring approval by the SPE simultaneously to SAF/AQ and to SAF/AQC after coordination by the SCO. Allow 18 days for staffing and SPE approval after receipt by SAF/AQ . J&A packages submitted to SAF/AQ shall include an electronic Staff Summary Sheet ( eSSS ) in the body of the email or as an attachment (Word document only). Include the approved acquisition strategy (or a draft acquisition strategy if the strategy document has not been approved) with the J&A package, and list each attachment under “Tabs” on the eSSS using the exact electronic file name (e.g., ACE Acquisition Strategy) of the corresponding attachment. The SCO may authorize solicitation release after the justification is reviewed for adequacy and forwarded to SAF/AQ and SAF/AQC . Submit questions or concerns regarding processing a J&A for SPE approval to SAF/AQC .
(4) Changes recommended during the staffing process must be adjudicated by the contracting officer in coordination with SAF/AQC prior to submitting the J&A to the SPE for approval.
(e) Prior to contract award: After a J&A has been approved, but prior to contract award, if new work is to be added or the dollar value of the contract is expected to exceed the original J&A approval authority, the contracting officer must submit an amended J&A to the appropriate approving authority for approval. The amended J&A must identify the new work and/or dollar increase from the initial, approved J&A.
(f) After contract award: When a proposed modification is for new work outside the scope of the original contract, the contracting officer must submit a new J&A as a stand-alone document to the appropriate approving authority based on the dollar value of the contract action for the new work. New work should not commence until the new J&A is approved unless authorized in accordance with FAR 6.302-2, Unusual and Compelling Urgency. See 5343.102-90 Contract Scope Considerations regarding contract scope considerations.
(g) A new J&A is not required for:
(1) a modification to decrease the dollar value or scope of the effort; or
(2) a modification to increase the estimated dollar value of in-scope work.