Knowledge Center · Contract Management
Can a COR Change Your Federal Contract?
Usually, no. A COR may help monitor and administer performance, but generally cannot change price, scope, quantity, delivery, quality requirements, or other contract terms.
A Contracting Officer’s Representative, commonly called a COR, may help monitor and administer a federal contract. Only a contracting officer, acting within the limits of delegated authority, can execute a contract modification on behalf of the government.
That distinction matters whenever a government employee asks your company to do something different from what the contract requires.
What is a contracting officer?
A contracting officer, or CO, is a government official appointed with authority to enter into, administer, or terminate contracts and make related decisions.
That authority is not unlimited. A contracting officer can bind the government only within the authority delegated to that individual.
What is a COR?
A COR assists with technical monitoring or contract administration. The contracting officer designates the COR in writing and defines that person’s responsibilities.
Depending on the written delegation, a COR may:
- Monitor technical performance.
- Coordinate access or meetings.
- Review deliverables.
- Document performance.
- Perform inspection or acceptance functions.
- Communicate about requirements already contained in the contract.
The exact duties vary by contract and agency. A COR’s authority does not include making commitments or changes affecting price, quality, quantity, delivery, or other contract terms, and a COR cannot direct the contractor to operate contrary to the contract.
What is a contract modification?
A contract modification changes the rights or obligations of the parties.
- Bilateral: Signed by both the contractor and contracting officer.
- Unilateral: Signed only by the contracting officer when an applicable clause or authority permits it.
A modification might change quantities, specifications, delivery dates, funding, performance locations, packaging requirements, or other contract terms. Not every email, meeting comment, or technical discussion is a modification.
Watch for seemingly small requests
Imagine a contract requires delivery to Utah within 30 days. During performance, a government representative asks you to deliver to a different state, ship two weeks earlier, add labels not included in the contract, increase the quantity, or provide an additional report.
Each request may sound minor. Each may affect cost, lead time, supplier commitments, or performance risk. Before treating it as authorized direction, compare it with the actual contract.
What should you do when direction appears to change the contract?
- Document the request. Record who made it, when, and exactly what was requested.
- Check the contract. Review the statement of work, specifications, line items, delivery terms, clauses, and modifications.
- Check the person’s authority. Review the COR designation letter and contracting officer information in the award.
- Identify the effect. Determine whether the request changes cost, quantity, quality, schedule, delivery location, supplier commitments, or another term.
- Notify the contracting officer promptly. Explain the apparent difference and request written clarification or appropriate contractual direction.
- Follow the contract’s clauses. Changes and notification procedures and deadlines vary.
A professional response might say:
Thank you for the request. We want to support the requirement. This direction appears to differ from the current delivery terms in the contract. Please confirm whether the contracting officer will provide written direction or a modification and advise how any schedule or cost impact should be addressed.
This is not refusing to cooperate. It is making sure the contractor and government are working from the same authorized requirement.
What is an unauthorized commitment?
An unauthorized commitment is an agreement that is not binding because the government representative who made it lacked authority to enter into that agreement.
The government may sometimes ratify, or formally approve, an unauthorized commitment, but ratification is not automatic. A contractor should not knowingly rely on ratification as its normal change-management process.
Practical takeaway
A cooperative contractor responds quickly. A responsible contractor also confirms that changed work is properly authorized.