INTENT - The Intent of the Policy and Process.
1.1. The Government is at risk when prime contracts are awarded non-competitively or the prime contract allows the prime contractor to pass all subcontract costs on to the Government. The Consent to Subcontract/Contractor Purchasing System Review process provides the most effective and efficient means to deal with those risks.

1.2. ACO's consent is required before the contractor places certain subcontracts as identified in the Subcontracts Clause (FAR 52.244-2). The number of subcontracts requiring consent decreases substantially when the contractor has an approved purchasing system.

1.3. CPSRs assist contracting officers in determining whether to approve a contractor's purchasing system. Approval of contractor purchasing systems allows the contracting officers to waive subcontract advance notifications and/or consent to subcontract actions. They also provide contracting officers with important acquisition planning support service (APSS)  information on which to base source selection decisions and profit/fee negotiation positions. CPSR data is an important part of APSS information on a contractor. Contractors are selected for review based on risk assessment criteria.