Introduction
Contracts management is a dynamic field entailing virtually every aspect of business and public administration. Despite common misconceptions, the job of a contracting officer (CO) involves much more than understanding, negotiating, and ensuring compliance with contractual terms and conditions. Some liken the CO to a police officer who ensures that the government and the contractor remain contractually compliant. This is true to an extent, but the role involves much more than simply policing for compliance.
The CO is the lead in the negotiation process and the caretaker of the contract from inception to closeout. As the interface with the government “customer,” the CO must know what is taking place at all times, ensure that deliverable ...
