Acquisition plans for other than fixed priced contracts must be approved and signed by a procurement official at least one level above the contracting officer. FAR 7.103(j).
The government’s “acquisition planner” does not need to be the assigned Contracting Officer.
There are 13 key milestones that occur during an acquisition. FAR 7.105(b)(21).
Agency determinations as to whether a function is or is not an “inherently governmental function” are reviewable by the Office of Management and Budget. FAR 7.503(b).