There is a debate in my agency on who is responsible for requesting funding to the Comptroller and at what point in the contract process funding must be provided. Currently the program office submits a requirements package to Contracts and Finance. However, Finance does not want to provide funding or availability of funding promise for the requirement until Contracts submits a request for funding, which must include the contract number, contractor, purpose, and exact amount to be funded. In several occasions, Contracts is ready to award a contract; however finance stops the award since there is no funding for the contract. My opinion is that the Program Office is responsible to request funding to Finance and provide it to Contracts as part of the requirements package. Also my understanding is that Contracts is not supposed to start the contract process until funding or availability of funding notice has been received. This has been an ongoing battle between Finance and Contracts for a couple of years now and the process would not change if I do not show an instruction showing otherwise. Any advice?