---
kind: "range"
citation: "32 C.F.R. §§ 21.435–21.445"
title: "32"
from: "21.435"
to: "21.445"
count: 3
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/32/21.435..21.445"
---

# §21.435. Must DoD Components formally select and appoint grants officers and agreements officers?


Yes, each DoD Component that awards grants or enters into cooperative agreements must have a formal process (see [§ 21.425](/cfr/32/21.425.md)) for selecting and appointing grants officers and for terminating their appointments. Similarly, each DoD Component that awards or administers technology investment agreements must have a process for selecting and appointing agreements officers and for terminating their appointments.


# §21.440. What are the standards for selecting and appointing grants officers and agreements officers?


In selecting grants officers and agreements officers, DoD Components must use the following minimum standards:

- (a) In selecting a grants officer, the appointing official must judge whether the candidate has the necessary experience, training, education, business acumen, judgment, and knowledge of assistance instruments and contracts to function effectively as a grants officer. The appointing official also must take those attributes of the candidate into account when deciding the complexity and dollar value of the grants and cooperative agreements to be assigned.
- (b) In selecting an agreements officer, the appointing official must consider all of the same factors as in [paragraph (a)](#a) of this section. In addition, the appointing official must consider the candidate's ability to function in the less structured environment of technology investment agreements, where the rules provide more latitude and the individual must have a greater capacity for exercising judgment. Agreements officers therefore should be individuals who have demonstrated expertise in executing complex assistance and acquisition instruments.

# §21.445. What are the requirements for a grants officer's or agreements officer's statement of appointment?


A statement of a grants officer's or agreements officer's appointment:

- (a) **Must be in writing.**
- (b) Must clearly state the limits of the individual's authority, other than limits contained in applicable laws or regulations. Information on those limits of a grants officer's or agreements officer's authority must be readily available to the public and agency personnel.
- (c) May, if the individual is a contracting officer, be incorporated into his or her statement of appointment as a contracting officer (i.e., there does not need to be a separate written statement of appointment for assistance instruments).