Authority and responsibility to contract for authorized supplies and services is vested in the Director, NSF, within the limits expressly provided by the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1861 et seq.). The NSF Procurement Executive is delegated overall responsibility by the Director for the Foundation's contracting activities.

NSF Contracting Officers have authority to enter into, administer, or terminate contracts and make related determinations and findings to the extent of the authority delegated to them in writing by the NSF Procurement Executive.