Understanding Government Contract Law

Chapter 3The Contracting Officer as Defendant

CONTENTS

Contracting Officer’s Financial Liability to the Government

Contracting Officer’s Financial Liability to The Public

Government Employee or Independent Contractor

Negligence or One of the “Non-Enumerated”Intentional Torts

Discretionary Function

Within the Scope of the Employee’s Duties

Like the rest of us, contracting officers always run the risk of being sued by somebody for something. Because contracting officers work for the government administering contracts with contractors, contracting officers face a double threat: potential lawsuits from the government and potential lawsuits from contractors and their employees. This chapter discusses both.

In the first part of the chapter, we discuss ...