PART 301—HHS ACQUISITION REGULATION SYSTEM Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 40 U.S.C. 121(c)(2). Source: 80 FR 72151, Nov. 18, 2015, unless otherwise noted. Subpart 301.1—Purpose, Authority, and Issuance 301.101 Purpose. (a) The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Acquisition Regulation (HHSAR) establishes uniform HHS acquisition policies and procedures that implement and supplement the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). (b)(1) The HHSAR contains HHS policies that govern the acquisition process or otherwise control acquisition relationships between HHS' contracting activities and contractors. The HHSAR contains— (i) Requirements of law; (ii) HHS-wide policies; (iii) Deviations from FAR requirements; and (iv) Policies that have a significant effect beyond the internal procedures of HHS or a significant cost or administrative impact on contractors or offerors. (2) Relevant internal procedures, guidance, and information not meeting the criteria in paragraph (b)(1) of this section are issued by HHS in other announcements, internal procedures, guidance, or information. 301.103 Authority. (b) The Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources (ASFR) prescribes the HHSAR under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 301 and section 205(c) of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, as amended (40 U.S.C. 121(c)(2)), as delegated by the Secretary). (c) The HHSAR is issued in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) as chapter 3 of title 48, Department of Health and Human Services Acquisition Regulation. It may be referenced as “48 CFR chapter 3.” 301.106 Office of Management and Budget approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act. (a) The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. (b) The following OMB control numbers apply to the information collection and recordkeeping requirements contained in this chapter: HHSAR Segment OMB Control No. 311.7102 0990-0434 311.7202(b) 0990-0434 311.7300 0990-0436 337.103(d)(3) 0990-0430 337.103(d)(4) 0990-0433 370.301 0990-0431 370.401 0990-0432 352.211-1 0990-0434 352.211-2 0990-0434 352.211-3 0990-0436 352.227-11 0990-0419 352.227-14 0990-0419 352.227-71 0990-0430 352.237-72 0990-0433 352.237-73 0990-0431 352.270-4a 0990-0431 352.270-4b 0990-0431 352.270-10 0990-0431 352.270-11 0990-0432 352.270-5a 0990-0432 352.270-5b 0990-0432 Subpart 301.2 [Reserved] Subpart 301.4—Deviations from the FAR 301.401 Deviations. Contracting officers are not permitted to deviate from the FAR or HHSAR without seeking proper approval. With full acknowledgement of FAR 1.102(d) regarding innovative approaches, any deviation to FAR or the HHSAR requires approval by the Senior Procurement Executive (SPE). Subpart 301.6—Career Development, Contracting Authority, and Responsibilities 301.602 Contracting officers. 301.602-3 Ratification of unauthorized commitments. (b) Policy. (2) The head of the contracting activity (HCA) is the official authorized to ratify an unauthorized commitment. No other re-delegations are authorized. (c) Limitations. 301.603 Selection, appointment, and termination of appointment of contracting officers. 301.603-1 General. (a) The Agency head has delegated broad authority to the Chief Acquisition Officer, who in turn has further delegated this authority to the SPE. The SPE has further delegated specific acquisition authority to the Operating and Staff Division heads and the HCAs. The HCA (non-delegable) shall select, appoint, and terminate the appointment of contracting officers. (b) To ensure proper control of redelegated acquisition authorities, HCAs shall maintain a file containing successive delegations of HCA authority through the contracting officer level.