As part of our commitment to providing superior customer service, the NITAAC Contracting Officer (CO) will assist the program office with acquisition tasks that fall outside of standard CO duties. However, the NITAAC CO is not a substitute for the COR, Budget Officer, Legal Counsel, or other members of the acquisition team.

In accordance with FAR 17.5, the Requesting Agency is required to document the analysis that was completed to determine that NITAAC is the Best Procurement Approach.  The Best Procurement Approach/Release documentation must be signed by the appropriate authority from the Requesting Agencies procurement office.

The responsibility of the NITAAC Contracting Officer (CO) for the assisted acquisition spans the entire acquisition life cycle, from market research and acquisition planning through close out of the order. NITAAC COs go beyond standard duties to assist with functions such as revising the SOW/SOO/PWS, and helping to develop Justifications for Exception to Fair Opportunity. While NITAAC offers such services as an added value, the NITAAC CO is not a replacement for essential partners in the acquisition such as the COR, budget officer and legal counsel.

Yes. Please refer to the PALT located at https://nitaac.nih.gov/services/assisted-acquisitions.