(a) The head of the contracting activity responsible for procuring an aviation or ship critical safety item may enter into a contract for the procurement, modification, repair, or overhaul of such an item only with a source approved by the head of the design control activity.

(b) The approval authorities specified in this section apply instead of those otherwise specified in FAR 9.202(a)(1), 9.202(c), or 9.206-1(c), for the procurement, modification, repair, and overhaul of aviation or ship critical safety items.