XL EaglePCO (Procuring Contracting Officer)
PCO stands for Procuring Contracting Officer. A PCO, or Procuring Contracting Officer, is the contracting officer responsible for buying: issuing the solicitation, evaluating offers, negotiating and awarding the contract. On many smaller contracts the PCO also handles administration after award.
On larger contracts, especially in the Defense Department, some administration duties may be delegated to an Administrative Contracting Officer (ACO), while the PCO keeps responsibility for major changes.
Why it matters to a small contractor
Before award, the PCO is your single point of authority on the solicitation. After award, check your contract (often Section G) to see who administers it. If an ACO is named, routine issues like payments or property may go there, while scope changes may still need the PCO.
Example
A contractor wins a DoD repair contract. Section G names the PCO at the buying command and an ACO at a regional contract management office. Invoices questions go to the ACO, while a request to add a new building goes to the PCO.
PCO: common questions
Is a PCO the same as a CO?
A PCO is a contracting officer. The P simply identifies the CO responsible for the procurement, as opposed to an ACO or TCO.
How do I find out who my PCO is?
The solicitation and contract name the issuing office and contracting officer, usually on the cover form and in Section G.
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