The Mission Area senior contracting official is authorized to approve the use of design competition under the conditions in FAR 36.602-1(b).

The Mission Area senior contracting official shall establish written procedures for providing permanent or ad hoc architect-engineer evaluation boards as prescribed in FAR 36.602-2.

The Mission Area senior contracting official may include either or both procedures in FAR 36.602-5(a) and (b) in the procedures for evaluation boards.

Mission Area senior contracting officials for Mission Areas that require architect-engineer services shall establish procedures to comply with the requirements of FAR 36.603.

(a) Should the HCA appoint a designee to make the determination in FAR 36.609-1(c)(1), the appointment may be to one no lower than the official authorized to commit program funds for the work being acquired.

(b) The contracting officer, with the advice of appropriate technical representatives, may make the determination in FAR 36.609-1(c)(2) or (3).