Which of the following is a Contracting Officer (CO) responsibility?

• A. Enters into, administers, and terminates contracts
• B. Approves security clearances
• C. Assigns IS Reps
• D. Manages payroll

Answer: (A)

At the heart of this question is the authority to bind the government in contractual actions. A Contracting Officer is empowered to enter into contracts, administer them through performance and oversight, and terminate them when needed. This includes awarding contracts (or approving follow-on actions), making contract modifications, and handling terminations for convenience or default, all while ensuring compliance with applicable laws and policies and properly closing out the contract once obligations are met.

Approving security clearances is handled by security offices, not the Contracting Officer. Assigning Information Security Representatives is a program or security-office function, and payroll is managed by human resources or finance.