(a) HHS may take specific official actions to implement the provisions of this part.

(b) These official actions include, but are not limited to, Rating Authorizations, Directives, and Letters of Understanding (See § 101.20.)

(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 or service not normally ratable under this part; 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 § 101.41.

(a) A Directive is an official action that 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) A Directive takes 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 including HHS, the Department of Commerce (if applicable), a Delegate Agency (if applicable), the supplier, and 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 part. Rather, Letters of Understanding are used to confirm production or shipping schedules that do not require modifications to other rated orders.