# FAR Part 42 Guides Contract Administration

FAR Part 42 sets the federal post-award framework for contract administration and audit, covering delegated contract administration office (CAO) functions, indirect cost rates, and contractor performance evaluations. Contractors should verify which FAR text applies to their contract and determine which responsibilities are delegated to a CAO versus retained by the contracting agency. They should also track the CPARS comment period and note that cognizance for universities and nonprofits follows 2 CFR Part 200 rather than the default largest-dollar test.

- Review contract terms to identify the responsible administration office and any retained agency responsibilities.
- Track the **14-calendar-day CPARS comment period** when responding to performance evaluations.
- Universities and nonprofits should assess cognizance under 2 CFR Part 200, not assume the largest-dollar test applies.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Topics:** Regulatory Compliance
**Published:** October 30, 2026

### Government Entities
- Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA)

### Sources
- [FAR Part 42: Contract Administration Explained — CASRAI](https://casrai.org/guides/far-part-42) - CASRAI