Federal Contracting Acronym

KO

Contracting Officer (KO)

Plain-English definition

KO is common DoD shorthand for Contracting Officer—the warrant holder who signs contract documents.

Why it matters

Contracting Officer (KO) (KO) is a core federal acquisition term used in regulations, solicitations, and contract administration.

Where you will see it

Federal notices on SAM.gov, contract attachments, registration systems, audit requests, and internal capture/proposal documentation.

Example in context

When reviewing a solicitation, a contractor confirms how KO is used in the notice, whether related clauses apply, and which internal subject-matter experts should validate the response.

Related acronyms

Source / references

FAR Subpart 1.6

Last updated September 19, 2026

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