Contracting Officer's Representative(COR)

Overview

The Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) is a government employee assigned to be the day-to-day technical liaison between the agency and the contractor. The COR monitors performance, reviews deliverables, and reports issues to the Contracting Officer — but critically, the COR cannot modify the contract or direct changes to scope.

Why It Matters in GovCon

The COR is usually your most frequent point of contact during contract execution. Building a strong working relationship with the COR leads to smoother performance, quicker issue resolution, and better past performance evaluations. However, always remember that only the CO has binding authority.

Key Details

• Appointment: CORs are formally designated in writing by the CO, with specific duties and limitations outlined.
• Responsibilities: Inspecting deliverables, monitoring schedules, reviewing invoices for accuracy, documenting performance, and reporting to the CO.
• Limitations: Cannot authorize work beyond the contract scope, approve additional funding, or make binding commitments.
• Training: CORs must complete required training and maintain their certification (FAC-COR levels I, II, or III depending on contract complexity).

Related Terms

• Contracting Officer (CO)
• Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP)
• Past Performance
• Performance Work Statement (PWS)