SPEAKING WITH AUTHORITY SFC Rachel Y. Harris, center, and SFC Charles T. Sykes, right, contracting specialists with the 413th CSB out of Wheeler Army Airfield, HI, and SFC Roberto Razon, a supply sergeant with the Hawaii National Guard’s 298th Regiment, Multi-Functional Training Unit, Regional Training Insti- tute, talk with dining facility staff at Pasir Laba Camp, Singapore, during Tiger Balm, a bilateral exercise. (Photo by SPC Tyler Meister, 117th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment (Hawaii))


individual was not a KO or a GPC holder and thus did not have authority to bind the government to pay for the widgets, such a transaction is considered an unau- thorized commitment (UAC).


Tat said, there is a mechanism for mak- ing good on a UAC. Let’s say that the KO’s unit did in fact need those widgets and that, had the proper procedures been followed, the KO would have entered into a contract for X widgets. Tat KO then can ratify the UAC, in part or in whole, under particular circumstances. Te following conditions must be met:


 Te government has received and accepted supplies or


services, or the


government has obtained or will obtain a benefit from the UAC.


 At the time the UAC occurred, the ratifying official could have entered into, or could have granted authority to another person to enter into, a contrac- tual commitment that the official has authority to exercise.


 Te resulting contract would have been proper if made by an appropriate con- tracting officer.


 Te price is fair and reasonable.  Te KO recommends payment and legal counsel concurs, unless agency procedures expressly do not require such concurrence.


 Funds are available and were available when the unauthorized commitment occurred.


 Ratification is within limitations pre- scribed by the agency.


Te ratification process is long and drawn- out, requiring the unit to complete a multipage “Request for Ratification of Unauthorized Commitment.” Te local contracting authority provides the con- tents of this form and must thoroughly explain who made the UAC and why, what corrective action was taken such as disciplining the individual, and the sig- nature of the first general officer or SES employee in the chain of command.


If the contents of the form or the facts of the situation do not comply with the above rules, the UAC cannot be rati- fied. Even if the contents of the form do comply, the KO is not required to ratify the UAC, and the individual who acted without authority could remain person- ally liable for the expense. In practice, the


ASC.ARMY.MIL 109


CONTRACTING


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