Budget justifications, continuing resolutions, and obligation authority
Terms for separating congressional language from and authority — especially under continuing resolutions.
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Congressional budget justification (CBJ)
A () is an agency document that signals program priority in a budget request. It is not an appropriation, acquisition strategy, or contract action. FAR 32.702 bars obligations in excess of or in advance of available appropriations unless authorized. Capture should triangulate enacted and execution evidence with forecasts, , and notices before upgrading the lead. Keep the mission on the radar; keep the dollars provisional until you can point to authority and a buying path.
Watch for
Don't confuse publication of a justification with authority to obligate the requested amount, treat absence of an award in as zero discovery value, or read a CBJ as proof of unrestricted competition under an 's .
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Continuing resolution (CR)
A (CR) is a temporary appropriation whose exact restrictions and exceptions depend on enacted text. CRs commonly constrain or delay new activities. FAR 32.702 still requires available funds or authorized conditioning before contract execution, so a CR lowers near-term funding and award confidence until you verify the actual CR text and any program-specific anomaly language. Adjust confidence and timing when fiscal instruments change; keep validating rather than deleting the underlying mission need by assumption.
Watch for
Don't treat a presidential budget request as funding for the award, assume a CR permanently prohibits every new contract, or leave timing and unchanged as if appropriations status had no relationship to obligation timing.