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Contracting Exam Pre Test Questions
All Answered Correct 2025-
Edition.
What are the 3 phases of contract life cycle? - Answer Pre-Award, Award, and Post-Award The Pre-award phase consists of 2 primary activities, what are they? - Answer Develop Solicitation and Develop Offer What one activity is in the award phase? - Answer Form the Contract The post-award phase is comprised of 2 primary activities, what are they? - Answer Perform Contract and Close Contract Who develops a solitication? - Answer The Government and the buyer Who prepares an offer? - Answer The Contractor and the seller During the post-award phase while the contract is being performed, who has the responsibility for quality? - Answer The seller What is the means by acquiring by contract with appropriated funds of supplies or services by and for the use of the Federal Government through purchase or lease? - Answer Acquisition What FAR part covers personal conflict of interest? - Answer FAR Part 3 What FAR part covers organizational conflict of interest? - Answer FAR Part 9 Who has the authority to the maximum extent practicable and consistent with law, to determine the application of rules, regulations, and policies, on a specific contract? - Answer The Contracting Officer Openness for the contracting officer applies primarily to? - Answer The Acquisition Team, Contractor, Offerors, and The Contracting Team
What is a Determination and Findings (D&F)? - Answer Determination is a conclusion or decision supported by the findings. What is a special form of written approval by an authorized official that is required by statute or regulation as a prerequisite to taking certain contract actions. - Answer A Determination and Findings (D&F) What is it called when a practice of conducting acquisition actions of any kind at any stage of the acquisition process that is inconsistent with the FAR?
- Answer Deviation What is a summary of the contractor's proposal, any field pricing assistance recommendations, including the reasons for any pertinent variances from them, the Government's negotiation objective, and the negotiated position. Where the determination of a fair and reasonable price is based on cost analysis, the summary shall address each major cost element. When determination of a fair and reasonable price is based on price analysis, the summary shall include the source and type of data used to support the determination. - Answer Negotiation You need to document a business decision, such as the use of a specific contract type. What document will you create? - Answer A Determination and Findings (D&F) At the conclusion of negotiations, the contracting officer will complete a what? - Answer Price Negotiation Memorandum (PNM) Prior to negotiation a sole source contract, the contracting officer must complete a what? - Answer Justification and Approval (J&A) This form is used to award negotiated contracts in which signatures of both parties on a single document is appropriate. - Answer SF 26 - Award/Contract This form is used to amend any solicitation or modify any contract. - Answer SF 30 - Amendment of Solicitation/Modification of Contract This form may be used to award either negotiated contracts or contracts utilizing sealed bidding. - Answer SF 33 - Solicitation, Offer, and Award This form is used for soliciting offers and awarding contracts expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. These acquisitions must be for:
What does OCI stand for? - Answer Organizational Conflicts of Interest An what is the existence of a set of circumstances in which a contractor may be unable to render impartial advice to the government, or might have impaired objectivity in performing contracted work, or may obtain an unfair competitive advantage in the marketplace when competing for government work where that unfair advantage is obtained performing a government contract. - Answer Organizational Conflicts of Interest (OCI) What are the 3 broad categories of OCI? - Answer (1) Unequal Access, (2) Impaired Objectivity, and (3) Biased Ground Rules What is an unfair competitive advantage typically surfaces when a contractor obtains information not generally available to competitors where such information would assist the contractor in winning the contract award? - Answer Unequal Access (part of OCI) This may happen when a support contractor is performing duties that involve assessing or evaluating itself or a related entity. - Answer Impaired Objectivity (part of OCI) This most often occurs when the contractor is writing the Statement of Work, performing systems engineering, or providing technical direction efforts. - Answer Biased Ground rules (part of OCI) What are the 3 basic approaches available to contractors and the Agency for dealing with OCI issues? - Answer (1) Avoid), (2) Neutralize, and (3) Mitigate Can you award to a contractor if you determine there is an OCI? - Answer If an OCI exists, it may be best to cancel the RFP and make any needed changes to eliminate any conflict. Who shall analyze planned acquisitions in order to (1) Identify and evaluate potential organizational conflicts of interest as early in the acquisition process as possible; and (2) Avoid, neutralize, or mitigate significant potential conflicts before contract award? - Answer The Contracting Officer Government business shall be conducted in a manner that is above reproach, with complete impartiality, and with preferential treatment for none. True or False? - Answer True
No person or other entity may disclose contractor bid or proposal information or source selection information to any person other than a person authorized, in accordance with applicable agency regulations or procedures, by the agency head or the contracting officer to receive such information. True or False? - Answer True Federal employees are prohibited from soliciting or accepting gifts offered "because of the employee's official position" or gifts offered by a "prohibited source." True or Fale? - Answer True A "personal conflict of interest" is a situation where an individual is employed by a defense contractor company and is in a position to materially influence DOD's recommendations and/or decisions and, because of his/her personal activities, relationships, or financial interests, may lack or appear to lack objectivity or appear to be unduly influenced by personal financial interest. True or False? - Answer True What is FAR Part 10? - Answer Market Research (1) Delivering on a timely basis is the best-value products and services to the customer and (2) maintaining the public's trust and fulfill public policy objectives is what? - Answer The vision of the Federal Acquisition System What costs are in the Contracting Life-Cycle? - Answer (1) Acquisition costs, (2) Supporting costs, (3) Disposal costs, and (4) Operating costs Market research shall be conducted when? - Answer On an ongoing basis and appropriate to the circumstances Which person of the acquisition team can contractually obligate the Government? - Answer The Contracting Officer Who is an individual, including a contracting officer's technical representative (COTR), designated and authorized in writing by the contracting officer to perform specific technical or administrative functions? - Answer Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) IAW FAR 1.102-3, the Acquisition Team consists of participants who will participate in the acquisition process at the appropriate time. Who are the participants? - Answer (1) customer/end-user, (2) technical personnel, (3) contracting personnel, and (4) contractor personnel
What means that parties involved in a contract must come to an agreement about the details of the transaction and each party either makes a promise or begins or renders performance? aka meeting of the minds. - Answer Mutual Assent What is something of value that a promisor (the offeror) receives from a promisee (the offeree) in return for his or her offer? - Answer Consideration A contract is unenforceable if any term of the agreement is contrary to public policy. What element is this? - Answer Lawful Purpose A contract is defined as a mutually binding legal relationship obligating the seller to furnish the supplies or services (including construction) and the buyer to pay for them. True or False? - Answer True Capacity is when each party either makes a promise or begins to render performance. True or False? - Answer False What is the process used to determine if industry can support the acquisition "needs" of the Government? - Answer Market Research Market Research is conducted to determine what 2 things that are available to meet the Government's needs. - Answer (1) Commercial Products/Services or (2) Non-Developmental Items What are the 2 types of Market Research? - Answer (1) Strategic Market and (2) Tactical Market What is conducted continuously throughout the acquisition process? - Answer Strategic Market Research What is conducted at specific points during the acquisition process? - Answer Tactical Market Research The extent of market research will vary, depending on such factors as urgency, estimated dollar value, complexity, and past experience. True or False? - Answer True Contracting Officers shall promote and provide for what in soliciting offers and awarding Government contracts? - Answer Full and Open Competition
The competitive procedures available for use in fulfilling the requirement for full and open competition is what? - Answer (1) Sealed Bids, (2) Competitive Proposals, (3) Combination of Competitive Procedures, and (4) other competitive procedures Generally, unless an exception applies or is otherwise expressly authorized by statute, Contracting Officers shall promote and provide for full and open competition in soliciting offers and awarding Government contracts. True or False? - Answer Agencies may exclude a particular source from a contract action in order to establish or maintain an alternative source or sources. These include what? (6) - Answer (1) establishing or maintain alternate sources, (2) set asides for small business concerns, (3) Section 8(a) competition, (4) set asides for HubZone small business concerns, (5) set asides for economically disadvantaged women-owned small business (EDWOSB) concerns or women- owned small business (WOSB) concerns eligible under the WOSB Program, and (6) set-asides for local firms during a major disaster or emergency What are the statutory authorities (including applications and limitations) permit contracting without providing for full and open competition? - Answer (1) only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements, (2) unusual and compelling urgency, (3) national security, and (4) public interest Contracting officers shall purchase supplies and services from responsible sources at fair and reasonable prices. True or Fale? - Answer True Acceptance constitutes acknowledgment that the supplies or services conform with applicable contract quality and quantity requirements, except as subject to other terms and conditions of the contract. True or False? - Answer True Supplies accepted at a place other than what shall not be re-inspected at destination for acceptance purposes, but should be examined at destination for quantity, damage in transit, and possible substitution or fraud? - Answer Destination Acceptance of supplies or services is the responsibility of who? - Answer The Contracting Officer Risk of loss of or damage to supplies shall remain with who? - Answer The Contractor
Bilateral modifications are used to what? - Answer (1) Make negotiated equitable adjustments resulting from the issuance of a change order; (2) Definitize letter contracts; and (3) bullet Reflect other agreements of the parties modifying the terms of contracts. Unilateral modifications are used to what? - Answer (1) Make administrative changes; (2) Issue change orders; (3) make changes authorized by clauses other than a changes clause; and (4) issue termination notices Only contracting officers acting within the scope of their authority are empowered to execute contract modifications on behalf of the Government. Government personnel shall not what? (3) - Answer (1) execute contract modifications, (2) act in such a manner as to cause the contractor to believe that they have authority to bind the Government, and (3) direct or encourage the contractor to perform work that should be the subject of a contract modification What are the 2 main types of termination? - Answer (1) Termination for Convenience and (2) Termination for Default What is the government's unilateral contractual right to partially or completely terminate a contract without being required to pay damages, despite full contractor compliance with its contractual obligations? - Answer Termination for Convenience ("T4C") What is generally the exercise of the Government's contractual right to completely or partially terminate a contract because of the contractor's actual or anticipated failure to perform its contractual obligations? - Answer Termination for Default (T4D) A what is used either after the cure notice fails to correct the delinquency or when there is insufficient time remaining in the schedule - less than 10-days?
- Answer Show Cause A cure notice is issued when? - Answer (1) Contractor fails to make progress and performance is endangered, (2) Performance problems do not involve terms for delivery, and (3) At least 10 days remain for contract performance and correction of the problem can be reasonably expected in the time remaining. Termination for Cause is similar to a default termination except it applies to commercial contract formats. True or False? - Answer True
A show cause is used either after the cure notice fails to correct the delinquency or when there is insufficient time remaining in the schedule - less than how many days? - Answer 10 days What are the 3 phases of The Service Acquisition Process? - Answer Planning Phase, Development Phase, and Execution Phase Acquisition planning should begin as soon as the agency need is identified. True or False? - Answer True What is the Government's policy on describing agency needs? - Answer (1) promote full & open competition, (2) minimize restrictive provisions, and (3) state requirements in terms of function, performance, & essential physical characteristics No officer or employee of the Government may create or authorize an obligation in excess of the funds available, or in advance of appropriations (Anti-Deficiency Act,31 U.S.C.1341), unless otherwise authorized by law. True or False? - Answer True The Government is ordinarily required to furnish all property necessary to perform Government contracts. True or False? - Answer False Market Research is required by which FAR Part? - Answer FAR Part 10 What are the two types of Market Research? - Answer Strategic (market surveillance) and Tactical (market investigation) What are some effective methods of industry engagement? - Answer (1) Sources South Solicitation, (2) Request for Information (RFI) distribution, (3) Pre-Solicitation Conference of Industry Day, (4) One-on-one interactions, and (5) Solicitation of feedback on Draft RFP Why is Market Research conducted? - Answer To determine the availability of commercial products and services, to identify market practices, and to become aware of the latest developments in products and services/ Agencies must conduct Market Research when? - Answer (1) before developing new requirements, (2) before soliciting offers for acquisitions above the SAT, (3) before soliciting offers that could lead to a bundled contract, and (4) on an on-going basis
44, (3) Using the imprest fund, (4) Using the Government-wide commercial purchase card as a method of purchase rather than only as a method of payment and (5) Directly from another Federal agency FAR part 13 prescribes Simplified Acquisition Procedures in order to: - Answer (1) Reduce administrative costs, (2) Improve opportunities for small, small disadvantaged, women-owned, veteran-owned, HUBZone, and service- disabled veteran-owned small business concerns to obtain a fair proportion of Government contracts, (3) Promote efficiency and economy in contracting and (4) Avoid unnecessary burdens for agencies and contractors Agencies shall use Simplified Acquisition Procedures to the maximum extent practicable for all purchases of supplies or services not exceeding the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (including purchases at or below the Micro- purchase Threshold). True or False? - Answer True Contracting officers shall solicit sealed bids if: - Answer (1) Time permits the solicitation, submission, and evaluation of sealed bids, (2) The award will be made on the basis of price and other price-related factors, (3) It is not necessary to conduct discussions with the responding offerors about their bids, and (4) There is a reasonable expectation of receiving more than one sealed bid IAW FAR part 15, after evaluation of offers the contracting officer may negotiate with offerors in the competitive range, advising each of the deficiencies in its proposal, and request final proposal revisions. True or False? - Answer True Contracts resulting from sealed bidding shall be what type of contracts? - Answer Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) or Fixed-Price Contracts with Economic Price Adjustment (FPEPA) What type of contract shall not be used? - Answer Cost-Plus-A-Percentage- of-a-Cost System No contract may be awarded before the execution of any what required by FAR Part 16? - Answer Determination and Findings (D&F) What are the 2 broad contract type categories? - Answer Fixed Price and Cost Reimbursement Which type of contract places upon the contractor maximum risk and responsibility for all costs and resulting profit or loss? - Answer Firm-Fixed- Price (FFP)
Which type of contract is where the contractor has minimal responsibility for the performance costs and the negotiated fee is fixed? - Answer Cost-Plus- Fixed-Fee (CPFF) Which type of contract may be used only when it is not possible at the time of placing the contract to estimate accurately the extent or duration of the work or to anticipate costs. - Answer Time-and-Materials (T&M) Contract types vary according to the degree and timing of the responsibility assumed by the contractor for the costs of performance and the amount and nature of the profit incentive offered to the contractor for achieving or exceeding goals. True or False? - Answer True A cost reimbursement type contract places upon the contractor maximum risk and responsibility for all costs and resulting profit or loss. True or False? - Answer False Cost-reimbursement types of contracts require the contractor to put forth a best effort to perform, and provide for payment of the contractor's allowable, allocable, and reasonable incurred costs. True or False? - Answer True A cost-plus-a-percentage-of-cost system of contracting is prohibited. True or False? - Answer True What are the elements of a Fixed-Price Incentive Firm Contract? - Answer (1) Target Cost, (2) Target Profit, (3) Ceiling Price and (4) Profit Adjustment Formula A Cost-Plus Incentive Fee contract specifies a target cost, a target fee, minimum and maximum fees, and a fee adjustment formula. True or False? - Answer True What are two forms of Cost Plus Fixed Fee contracts? - Answer (1) Term and (2) Completion A what is a unique number identifying each solicitation, contract, agreement, or order and related procurement instrument. - Answer Procurement Instrument Identifier (PIID) Agencies shall include all PIIDs for all what related procurement actions? - Answer (1) Solicitation, (2) Contracts and Purchase Orders, (3) Delivery and
What are the 4 parts of a Uniform Contract Format (UCF)? - Answer Part I - The Schedule, Part II - Contract Clauses, Part III - List of Documents, Exhibits, and Other Attachments, and Part IV - Representations and Instructions What do you use to identify exhibits? - Answer Alpha characters What do you use to identify attachments? - Answer Numbers What is Section A of a UCF? - Answer Solicitation/Contract Form What is Section B of a UCF? - Answer Supplies or Services and Prices/Costs What is Section C of a UCF? - Answer Description/Specifications/Statement of Work What is Section D of a UCF? - Answer Packaging and Marking What is Section E of a UCF? - Answer Inspection and Acceptance What is Section F of a UCF? - Answer Deliveries or Performance What is Section G of a UCF? - Answer Contract Administration Data What is Section H of a UCF? - Answer Special Contract Requirements What is Section I of a UCF? - Answer List of Attachments What is Section K of a UCF? - Answer Representations, Certifications, and other statements of offerors What is Section L of a UCF? - Answer Instructions, conditions, and notices to offerors or respondents What is Section M of a UCF? - Answer Evaluation factors for award If the Government changes its requirements or terms and conditions, the contracting officer shall amend the solicitation when? - Answer Either before or after recipet of proposals
Amendments issued before the established time and date for receipt of proposals shall be issued to who? - Answer all parties receiving the solicitation Amendments issued after the established time and date for receipt of proposals shall be issued to who? - Answer all offerors that have not been eliminated from the competition Using simplified acquisition procedures, contracting officers must promote what to the maximum extent practicable to obtain supplies and services from the source whose offer is the most advantageous to the Government, considering the administrative cost of the purchase? - Answer Competition FAR Part 6 Competition Requirements categories competition in one of three categories: - Answer (1) FAR subpart 6.1 Full and Open Competition, (2) FAR subpart 6.2 Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources, and (3) FAR subpart 6.3 - Other Than Full and Open Competition How many statutory authorities that permit contracting without providing for full an open competition? - Answer 7 An what among industry and the program manager, contracting officer, and other participants in the acquisition process can identify and resolve concerns regarding the acquisition strategy, including proposed contract type, terms and conditions, and acquisition planning schedules; the feasibility of the requirement, including performance requirements, statements of work, and data requirements; the suitability of the proposal instructions and evaluation criteria, including the approach for assessing past performance information; the availability of reference documents; and any other industry concerns or questions? - Answer Early Exchange of Information What are some techniques to promote early exhanges of information? - Answer Industry or small business conferences, public hearings, market research, one-on-one meetings with potential offerors, pre-solicitation notices, draft requests for proposals (RFP), request for information (RFI), pre- solicitation or preproposal conferences, site vistis. What is a request to submit offers or quotations to the government? - Answer Solicitation Under sealed bid procedures, solicitations are called what? - Answer invitations for bids
Amendments must be sent when to everyone to whom invitations have been furnished and must be displayed in the bid room? - Answer before the time for bid opening Before amending a what, the contracting officer must consider the period of time remaining until bid opening and the need to extend this period? - Answer invitation for bids, When, either before or after receipt of proposals, the Government changes its requirements or terms and conditions, the contracting officer must what?
- Answer amend the solicitation Amendments issued before the established time and date for receipt of proposals must be issued to who? - Answer all parties receiving the solicitation Amendments issued after the established time and date for receipt of proposals must be issued to who? - Answer all offerors that have not been eliminated from the competition A change to the solicitation is called a what? - Answer Amendment The Government-wide Point of Entry is where the public can view current business opportunities for requirements valued at what amount? - Answer $25,000+ What is specifically set up to help firms view current Government business opportunities? - Answer Government-wide Point of Entry (GPE) What are the 3 levels of competition? - Answer (1) Full and Open Competition, (2) Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources, and (3) Other than Full and Open Competition What is the term that means a contractor submits an offer below anticipated costs, expecting to increase the contract amount after award or receive follow-on contracts at artificially high prices to recover losses incurred on the buy-in contract? - Answer Buying-in what is it called when you are limiting competition to establish or maintain an alternative source? - Answer Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources
Costs that are expressly unallowable or mutually agreed to be unallowable shall be identified and excluded from any ________, _________, or __________ applicable to a Government contract. - Answer Billing, claim, or proposal In accordance with FAR 15.401, what means cost plus any fee or profit applicable to the contract type? - Answer price What is the process of establishing a reasonable amount or amounts to be paid for supplies or services? - Answer Pricing Each contract should be priced separately and independently? True or False - Answer True What normally establishes price reasonablrness? - Answer Competition When contracting on a FFP basis, what will usually satisfy the requirement to perform a price analysis? - Answer A comparison of proposed prices Price to the Government shall be evaluated in every source selection? True or False - Answer True When contracting a cost-reimbursement basis, evaluation shall include a cost realism analysis to determine? - Answer (1)What the Government should realistically expect to pay for the proposed effort, (2) The offeror's understanding of the work and (3) The offeror's ability to perform the contract Cost realism analysis may not be used on fixed-price incentive contracts? True or False - Answer False The objective of what is to ensure that the final agreed-to price is fair and reasonable? - Answer proposal analysis Who is responsible for evaluating and determining the fairness and reasonableness of offered prices? - Answer The CO When a contracting professional determines that a price is reasonable, what does that mean? - Answer They made a decision based on what a prudent and competent buyer would be willing to pay.
