Contracting officer's representative (COR)
Also called: COR, COTR, Contracting officer's technical representative
Updated
What is Contracting officer's representative (COR)?
A contracting officer's representative (COR) is a government employee designated in writing by the contracting officer to monitor a contractor's technical performance, review deliverables and invoices, and report to the CO. A COR has no authority to make commitments or changes that affect price, quality, quantity, delivery or other terms.
What a COR does and does not do
FAR 1.602-2(d) requires a COR to be designated in writing, with the scope and limits of the role stated, and to be qualified for it. In practice the COR is the contractor's main technical contact: they accept or reject deliverables, track performance against the statement of work, review invoices, and keep the CO informed.
A COR cannot direct new work, change a deadline or approve extra cost. Requests like that, however reasonable, must go to the contracting officer for a modification before you act on them.
Why the COR matters for future bids
The COR's view of your work often shapes your CPARS evaluation and is the reference an evaluator may call when you cite the contract as past performance. Keep the COR informed with clear status reports, flag problems early with a plan, and record agreements in writing.
When you write a past performance reference, include a government point of contact who can speak to the work, often the COR, and confirm the contact details are still current before submitting.
Contracting officer's representative (COR) in ProposalWorkspace
In ProposalWorkspace each past performance reference records its government point of contact with the CPARS rating and evidence files, and a readiness check flags whether a reachable government contact is on file before you cite it.
Contracting officer's representative (COR): questions and answers
Can a COR approve a change to the contract?
No. A COR can monitor and report but cannot change price, scope, schedule or other terms. Only the contracting officer can, through a contract modification.
Is the COR the same as the program manager?
Not necessarily. The program manager owns the mission need; the COR is the person the contracting officer designated to monitor this contract. Sometimes one person does both.
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