For noncompetitive acquisitions exceeding $500 million, who conducts the business clearance?

In the context of noncompetitive acquisitions exceeding $500 million, the responsibility for conducting the business clearance is assigned to the DAS(C) or ADAS(C). This designation refers to the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Contracting or the Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary for Contracting.

The DAS(C) plays a critical role in overseeing and ensuring compliance with procurement regulations and policies, particularly for high-value contracts that require a thorough business clearance process. This includes assessing the necessity and justification for the noncompetitive nature of the acquisition, making it essential to have a senior official with significant expertise and authority, like the DAS(C) or ADAS(C), involved in the clearance process.

The other roles, while possessing important responsibilities within the contracting framework, do not typically engage in business clearance for acquisitions of this magnitude. The SCCO (Senior Contracting Officer) oversees contracting officers but does not conduct business clearances, the Chief of the Contracting Office has broader oversight functions but is usually not directly responsible for business clearance on such large acquisitions, and the Chief of Contracting Division also provides support and guidance rather than performing these high-level business clearance actions. Hence, the involvement of senior officials such as DAS(C) or ADAS(C) is crucial in this context.