a.  Acquisition  - The acquiring by contract with appropriated funds of supplies or services (including construction) for the use of the Federal government.  The acquisition is through purchase or lease, whether the supplies or services are already in existence or must be created, developed, demonstrated, and evaluated.  Acquisition begins at the point when agency needs are established.  It includes the description of requirements to satisfy agency needs, solicitation and selection of sources, award of contracts, contract financing, contract performance, contract administration, and those technical and management functions directly related to the process of fulfilling agency needs by contract.

b.  Agency Program Coordinator - A Government employee in Acquisition Management Division (AMD) who is responsible for managing the BankCard Program except payment and software training, and provide oversight to ensure that cardholders and approving officials use internal controls and are properly using the card.

c.  Bankcard - (also known as the Purchase Card) - A BankCard, similar in nature to a commercial credit card, issued to authorized agency employees for use in acquiring supplies and services up to a designated level of authority, most often $2,500.

d.  Commerce Standard Acquisition And Reporting System (CSTARS) - A commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) software product used by the Department of Commerce’s acquisition communities as the enterprise-wide standard acquisition and reporting system.

e.  Commercial Items - Any item or service, other than real property, that is of a type customarily used by the general public or by non-governmental entitles for purposes other than governmental purposes.

f.  Contract - A mutually binding legal relationship obligating the seller to furnish supplies or services (including construction) and the buyer to pay for them.  It includes all types of commitments that obligate the Government to an expenditure of authorized funds and that, except as otherwise authorized, are in writing.  A purchase order is a contract that becomes effective by written acceptance or performance.

g.  Contract Specialist - A person to whom a Contracting Officer delegates various functions in preparing and awarding contracts.  This person assists the Contracting Officer in the performance of their duties.

h.  Contracting Officer - A person with the authority to enter into, administer, and/or terminate contracts and make related determinations and findings.

i.  Contracting Officer Representative (COR) - A current Federal Government employee given delegated limited authority by a Contracting Officer to monitor and perform specific enumerated contract management duties.  A COR may be designated as Levels 1, 2, or 3 Contracting Officer Technical Representative (COTR) or Point of Contact/Order Contact (P/OC).  All designations are considered CORs.

j.  Contracting Officer Technical Representative (COTR) - A current Federal Government employee given delegated limited authority by a Contracting Officer to monitor and perform specific enumerated contract management duties ($100K to above $10M).

k.  Delivery Order - An order for supplies placed against an established contract or with Government sources.

l.  Electronic And Information Technology (EIT) - Has the same meaning as “information technology” except EIT also includes any equipment or interconnected system or subsystem of equipment that is used in the creation, conversion, or duplication of data or information.  The term EIT, includes, but is not limited to, telecommunication products (such as telephones), information kiosks and transaction machines, worldwide websites, multimedia, and office equipment (such as copiers and fax machines).

m.  Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) - Acquisition regulations which apply to all executive agencies.

n.  Federal Business Opportunities (i.e., formerly the Commerce Business Daily (CBD) and also known as FedBizOpps) - A single Government wide point of entry (GPE) to publicize/solicit quotes to the public in writing over $25,000 to promote competition.  (See http://www.fedbizopps.gov.)

o.  Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) - A program established by the General Services Administration (GSA) which provides Federal agencies with a simplified process for obtaining commonly used supplies and services at prices associated with volume buying.  Indefinite delivery contracts are established with commercial firms to provide supplies and services at stated prices for given periods of time.  GSA issues publications, titled Federal Supply Schedules, containing the information necessary for placing delivery orders with the contractors.

p.  Imprest Funds - A cash fund of a fixed amount established by an advance of funds, without charge to an appropriation, from an Agency Finance or Disbursing Officer to a duly appointed cashier, for disbursement as needed from time to time in making payment by check for relatively small amounts.

q.  Micro-Purchase - An acquisition of supplies or services for which the aggregate amount does not exceed $2,500; except, in the case of construction, the limit is $2,000.

r.  Modification - A document that changes the terms or conditions, exercises an option, or alters administrative data in an existing award transaction.

s.  Nonpersonal Services Contract - A contract under which the personnel rendering the services are not subject, either by the contract’s terms or by the manner of its administration, to the supervision and control usually prevailing in relationships between the Government and its employees.

t.  Personal Services Contract - A contract that, by its expressed terms or as administered, makes the contractor personnel appear to be in effect, Government employees.

u.  Point Of Contact/Order Contact (P/OC) - A current Federal Government employee given delegated limited authority by a Contracting Officer to monitor and perform specific enumerated contract management duties ($25,001-$100K).

v.  Purchasing Agent (Buyer) - An employee in the Contracting Office authorized to acquire goods or services utilizing Simplified Acquisition Procedures, including orders against Federal Supply Services contracts.

w. Purchase Order - An offer by the Government to acquire supplies or services using simplified acquisition procedures.  The purchase order becomes a contract when accepted in writing or by specific performance.

x.  Simplified Acquisition Procedures - Simplified procedures designated in FAR Part 13 applicable to procurements under the Simplified Acquisition Threshold.  These procedures typically apply to awards under $100,000 (or in certain instances for commercial items in amounts greater than the simplified acquisition threshold but not exceeding $5,000,000, including options), and are designed to streamline the acquisition process for requirements under that threshold.

y.  Small And Disadvantaged Business Utilization Specialist (SADBUS) - An AMD employee responsible for promoting the use of the small business programs.

z. Small Business Programs - Classes of businesses as defined by the Small Business Administration  (SBA) used in classifying acquisitions to be set aside for designated socioeconomic groups.

aa.  Task Order - An order for services placed against an established contract or with Government sources.

bb.  Technical Information Contact (TIC) - A current Federal employee given authority by a Contracting Officer for performing only 2 COR duties as follows:  (a) track and accept services and deliverables; and (b) review and sign payment of invoices submitted by the contractor ($1.00 - $25K or $25,001 - $100K).

cc.  Unauthorized Procurement Action - A representation of commitment concerning procurement made for the agency by an unauthorized person.