Contracting Officer
Also known as: KO, CO
A Contracting Officer (CO or KO) is the federal government employee with delegated authority to enter into, administer, or terminate contracts and make related determinations. For CMMC purposes, the contracting officer determines the required CMMC level for the contract and is the government's point of accountability for compliance enforcement.
Related terms
- Prime Contractor
A prime contractor is the entity that holds the direct contract with the federal government. The prime is responsible for flowing down applicable CMMC requirements to its subcontractors and for assessing whether each subcontractor's required CMMC level matches the type of information being shared.
- Federal Contract Information
Federal Contract Information (FCI) is non-public information provided by or generated for the federal government under a contract to develop or deliver a product or service. It is the information type protected under FAR 52.204-21 and is the trigger for CMMC Level 1.