48 CFR §4.803
Verified against eCFR.gov as of June 20, 2026View official text on eCFR.gov ↗
The following are examples of the records normally contained, if applicable, in contract files:
- (a)Contracting office contract file.
- (1)Purchase request, acquisition planning information, and other presolicitation documents.
- (2)Justifications and approvals, determinations and findings, and associated documents.
- (3)Evidence of availability of funds.
- (4)Synopsis of proposed acquisition as required by part 5 or a reference to the synopsis.
- (5)The list of sources solicited, and a list of any firms or persons whose requests for copies of the solicitation were denied, together with the reasons for denial.
- (6)Set-aside decision (see 19.506) including the type and extent of market research conducted.
- (7)Government estimate of contract price.
- (8)A copy of the solicitation and all amendments thereto.
- (9)Security requirements and evidence of required clearances.
- (10)A copy of each offer or quotation, the related abstract, and records of determinations concerning late offers or quotations. Unsuccessful offers or quotations may be maintained separately, if cross-referenced to the contract file. The only portions of the unsuccessful offer or quotation that need be retained are—
- (11)Contractor's representations and certifications (see 4.1201(c)).
- (12)Preaward survey reports or reference to previous preaward survey reports relied upon.
- (13)Source selection documentation.
- (14)Contracting officer's determination of the contractor's responsibility.
- (15)Small Business Administration Certificate of Competency.
- (16)Records of contractor's compliance with labor policies including equal employment opportunity policies.
- (17)Data and information related to the contracting officer's determination of a fair and reasonable price. This may include—
- (18)Packaging and transportation data.
- (19)Cost or price analysis.
- (20)Audit reports or reasons for waiver.
- (21)Record of negotiation.
- (22)Justification for type of contract.
- (23)Authority for deviations from this regulation, statutory requirements, or other restrictions.
- (24)Required approvals of award and evidence of legal review.
- (25)Notice of award.
- (26)The original of—
- (27)Synopsis of award or reference thereto.
- (28)Notice to unsuccessful quoters or offerors and record of any debriefing.
- (29)Acquisition management reports (see subpart 4.6).
- (30)Bid, performance, payment, or other bond documents, or a reference thereto, and notices to sureties.
- (31)Report of postaward conference.
- (32)Notice to proceed, stop orders, and any overtime premium approvals granted at the time of award.
- (33)Documents requesting and authorizing modification in the normal assignment of contract administration functions and responsibility.
- (34)Approvals or disapprovals of requests for waivers or deviations from contract requirements.
- (35)Rejected engineering change proposals.
- (36)Royalty, invention, and copyright reports (including invention disclosures) or reference thereto.
- (37)Contract completion documents.
- (38)Documentation regarding termination actions for which the contracting office is responsible.
- (39)Cross-references to pertinent documents that are filed elsewhere.
- (40)Any additional documents on which action was taken or that reflect actions by the contracting office pertinent to the contract.
- (41)A current chronological list identifying the awarding and successor contracting officers, with inclusive dates of responsibility.
- (42)When limiting competition, or awarding on a sole source basis, to economically disadvantaged women-owned small business (EDWOSB) concerns or women-owned small business (WOSB) concerns eligible under the WOSB Program in accordance with subpart 19.15, include documentation—
- (b)Contract administration office contract file.
- (1)Copy of the contract and all modifications, together with official record copies of supporting documents executed by the contract administration office.
- (2)Any document modifying the normal assignment of contract administration functions and responsibility.
- (3)Security requirements.
- (4)Certified cost or pricing data, Certificates of Current Cost or Pricing Data, or data other than certified cost or pricing data; cost or price analysis; and other documentation supporting contractual actions executed by the contract administration office.
- (5)Preaward survey information.
- (6)Purchasing system information.
- (7)Consent to subcontract or purchase.
- (8)Performance and payment bonds and surety information.
- (9)Postaward conference records.
- (10)Orders issued under the contract.
- (11)Notice to proceed and stop orders.
- (12)Insurance policies or certificates of insurance or references to them.
- (13)Documents supporting advance or progress payments.
- (14)Progressing, expediting, and production surveillance records.
- (15)Quality assurance records.
- (16)Property administration records.
- (17)Documentation regarding termination actions for which the contract administration office is responsible.
- (18)Cross reference to other pertinent documents that are filed elsewhere.
- (19)Any additional documents on which action was taken or that reflect actions by the contract administration office pertinent to the contract.
- (20)Contract completion documents.
- (c)Paying office contract file.