(a) The Department of Commerce may, from time-to-time, take specific official actions to implement or enforce the provisions of this part.

(b) Some of these official actions (rating authorizations and letters of understanding) are discussed in this subpart. Official actions that pertain to compliance (administrative subpoenas, demands for information, and inspection authorizations) are discussed in § 700.71(c). Directives are discussed in § 700.62.

(a) A rating authorization is an official action granting specific priority rating authority that:

(1) Permits a person to place a priority rating on an order for an item, such as an item not normally ratable under this regulation; or

(2) Authorizes a person to modify a priority rating on a specific order or series of contracts or orders.

(b) To request priority rating authority, see § 700.51.

(a) A directive is an official action which requires a person to take or refrain from taking certain actions in accordance with its provisions.

(b) A person must comply with each directive issued. However, a person may not use or extend a directive to obtain any items from a supplier, unless expressly authorized to do so in the directive.

(c) Directives take precedence over all DX rated orders, DO rated orders, and unrated orders previously or subsequently received, unless a contrary instruction appears in the directive.

(a) A letter of understanding is an official action that may be issued in resolving special priorities assistance cases to reflect an agreement reached by all parties (e.g., the Department of Commerce, the Determination Department, the Delegate Agency, the supplier, the customer).

(b) A letter of understanding is not used to alter scheduling between rated orders, to authorize the use of priority ratings, to impose restrictions under this regulation, or to take other official actions. Rather, letters of understanding are used to confirm production or shipping schedules which do not require modifications to other rated orders.