CPPO ACTUAL 2026 EXAM QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
GRADED A+
✔✔Begin the process of building documentation of the issues by issuing a Cure Notice -
✔✔A procurement officer was asked by his entity to terminate a contract in the middle
of its 5 year contract term and re-solicit the service. The reasons given were legitimate
contract deficiencies, and failure to perform. After review of the contract file, the
procurement officer determines that this is the first documented issue with this
contractor. When the procurement officer asks about measures taken to remedy the
contract performance concerns, the program manager stated that she had several
phone calls with the contractor's staff and she has not gotten the results they promised
in those phone calls. What should the procurement officer do?
a. Terminate the contract for failure to perform and send a letter to the surety of the
contract demanding performance bond
b. Set a meeting with the contractor to discuss the termination of the contract
c. Begin the process of building documentation of the issues by issuing a Cure Notice
d. Ask that the program manager set up a mediation date with the contractor
✔✔Independent technical testing - ✔✔The entity has a contract with a hazardous
material management company to remove asbestos from 83 school buildings. What is
the best method for the entity to employ to ensure compliance with the contract
specifications?
a. Random sampling
b. Independent technical testing
c. Spot inspection
d. 50% inspection by the agency's project
✔✔Liquidated Damages - ✔✔In contracts where delinquent performance can result in
damage, which provision would be most useful?
a. Performance Bond
b. Contract Warranties
c. Termination for Default
d. Liquidated Damages
✔✔Terminate for Convenience - ✔✔The entity awarded a contract to complete a four
hundred mile repaving project. After an economic downturn, the entity had to use the
funds allotted for this project for other purposes. What should the entity do?
a. Terminate for Cause
b. Terminate for Convenience
c. Issue a Cure Notice
d. Issue a No-Progress Notice
✔✔Performance Assessment Plan (PAP) - ✔✔This element of contract administration
describes how evaluators will observe, test, evaluate and document supplier
performance.
,a. Contract Administration Plan (CAP)
b. Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT)
c. Quality Assurance (QA)
d. Performance Assessment Plan (PAP)
✔✔Establish a BATNA - ✔✔The negotiation team Is concerned that it is entering the
negotiation In a relatively weak position. What preparation should It take to mitigate this
problem?
a. Rehearse the negotiation
b. Agree to stonewall the supplier
c. Establish a BATNA
d. Develop a list of possible concessions
✔✔Help preserve the parties' business relationship - ✔✔An entity is negotiating with a
long-term supplier over a contract dispute. What should be the goal of this negotiation?
a. Help preserve the parties' business relationship
b. Create the foundation for litigation
c. Favor the government's position for quick resolution
d. Ensure the prevailing party is well compensated
✔✔Conduct brainstorming sessions to develop options - ✔✔Which of the following is a
key step in planning for negotiations?
a. Identify information your team will withhold from the other team
b. Agree to adhere to specific details
c. Conduct brainstorming sessions to develop options
d. Rehearse good guy/bad guy routines
✔✔Mediation - ✔✔A buyer is in a dispute with a service contractor regarding the terms
of their agreement; negotiation has failed. The supervisor would like the buyer to have it
resolved in the fairest, most objective, and least costly manner possible. Based on
these directives, which would be the best way to resolve the dispute?
a. Renegotiations
b. Mini-trial
c. Litigation
d. Mediation
✔✔Planning - ✔✔In which phase of the negotiation process should one invest the most
effort to ensure the highest possibility of success?
a. Planning
b. Exchanging Information
c. Analyzing the other side's tactics
d. Agreement
✔✔Knowing what the other side really wants and needs - ✔✔When preparing for a
negotiation session, what knowledge will give the governmental negotiator the most
power?
, a. Understanding the position that must be achieved
b. Having good technical knowledge of the proposal
c. Identifying a back-up supplier in case the negotiations are not successful
d. Knowing what the other side really wants and needs
✔✔Conduct mock a negotiation - ✔✔If time permits, which planning activity could
enhance the team's preparation?
a. Read documentation of past negotiations
b. Review options
c. Conduct mock a negotiation
d. Practice the nominal group technique
✔✔Develop objective criteria justifications - ✔✔An entity is negotiating a price increase
for services that require the contractor to drive long distances. The Procurement Officer
wants to negotiate future increases based on a gas price index. The supplier wants a
fixed annual increase. What is the most appropriate negotiation approach for the
Procurement Officer to utilize
a. Prioritize potential solutions
b. Explore compatible interests
c. Develop objective criteria justifications
d. View issue from supplier's perspective
✔✔Separate people from the problem - ✔✔Due to the history of the contract dispute
there are high emotions on both sides going into the negotiation. Which negotiation
principle should receive the most attention at the beginning of the negotiation to diffuse
tension?
a. Generate options
b. Focus on interests
c. Separate people from the problem
d. Use objective criteria
✔✔Identifying unethical tactics - ✔✔Which topic is not included in negotiation
documentation?
a. Identifying unethical tactics
b. Drawing up the final agreement or contract
c. Basis for future negotiations
d. Future contract interpretation
✔✔Explain that agency procedures require that all bids be electronically posted to allow
for open and fair competition - ✔✔The end user has requested that only local suppliers
receive the solicitation. What is the best way to respond to this request?
a. Add language to the bid that only local suppliers can submit proposals
b. Explain that agency procedures require that all bids be electronically posted to allow
for open and fair competition
c. Explain that he can only put "Buy America" language in bid specifications
d. State that the WTO requires the agency to support the NAFTA program
GRADED A+
✔✔Begin the process of building documentation of the issues by issuing a Cure Notice -
✔✔A procurement officer was asked by his entity to terminate a contract in the middle
of its 5 year contract term and re-solicit the service. The reasons given were legitimate
contract deficiencies, and failure to perform. After review of the contract file, the
procurement officer determines that this is the first documented issue with this
contractor. When the procurement officer asks about measures taken to remedy the
contract performance concerns, the program manager stated that she had several
phone calls with the contractor's staff and she has not gotten the results they promised
in those phone calls. What should the procurement officer do?
a. Terminate the contract for failure to perform and send a letter to the surety of the
contract demanding performance bond
b. Set a meeting with the contractor to discuss the termination of the contract
c. Begin the process of building documentation of the issues by issuing a Cure Notice
d. Ask that the program manager set up a mediation date with the contractor
✔✔Independent technical testing - ✔✔The entity has a contract with a hazardous
material management company to remove asbestos from 83 school buildings. What is
the best method for the entity to employ to ensure compliance with the contract
specifications?
a. Random sampling
b. Independent technical testing
c. Spot inspection
d. 50% inspection by the agency's project
✔✔Liquidated Damages - ✔✔In contracts where delinquent performance can result in
damage, which provision would be most useful?
a. Performance Bond
b. Contract Warranties
c. Termination for Default
d. Liquidated Damages
✔✔Terminate for Convenience - ✔✔The entity awarded a contract to complete a four
hundred mile repaving project. After an economic downturn, the entity had to use the
funds allotted for this project for other purposes. What should the entity do?
a. Terminate for Cause
b. Terminate for Convenience
c. Issue a Cure Notice
d. Issue a No-Progress Notice
✔✔Performance Assessment Plan (PAP) - ✔✔This element of contract administration
describes how evaluators will observe, test, evaluate and document supplier
performance.
,a. Contract Administration Plan (CAP)
b. Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT)
c. Quality Assurance (QA)
d. Performance Assessment Plan (PAP)
✔✔Establish a BATNA - ✔✔The negotiation team Is concerned that it is entering the
negotiation In a relatively weak position. What preparation should It take to mitigate this
problem?
a. Rehearse the negotiation
b. Agree to stonewall the supplier
c. Establish a BATNA
d. Develop a list of possible concessions
✔✔Help preserve the parties' business relationship - ✔✔An entity is negotiating with a
long-term supplier over a contract dispute. What should be the goal of this negotiation?
a. Help preserve the parties' business relationship
b. Create the foundation for litigation
c. Favor the government's position for quick resolution
d. Ensure the prevailing party is well compensated
✔✔Conduct brainstorming sessions to develop options - ✔✔Which of the following is a
key step in planning for negotiations?
a. Identify information your team will withhold from the other team
b. Agree to adhere to specific details
c. Conduct brainstorming sessions to develop options
d. Rehearse good guy/bad guy routines
✔✔Mediation - ✔✔A buyer is in a dispute with a service contractor regarding the terms
of their agreement; negotiation has failed. The supervisor would like the buyer to have it
resolved in the fairest, most objective, and least costly manner possible. Based on
these directives, which would be the best way to resolve the dispute?
a. Renegotiations
b. Mini-trial
c. Litigation
d. Mediation
✔✔Planning - ✔✔In which phase of the negotiation process should one invest the most
effort to ensure the highest possibility of success?
a. Planning
b. Exchanging Information
c. Analyzing the other side's tactics
d. Agreement
✔✔Knowing what the other side really wants and needs - ✔✔When preparing for a
negotiation session, what knowledge will give the governmental negotiator the most
power?
, a. Understanding the position that must be achieved
b. Having good technical knowledge of the proposal
c. Identifying a back-up supplier in case the negotiations are not successful
d. Knowing what the other side really wants and needs
✔✔Conduct mock a negotiation - ✔✔If time permits, which planning activity could
enhance the team's preparation?
a. Read documentation of past negotiations
b. Review options
c. Conduct mock a negotiation
d. Practice the nominal group technique
✔✔Develop objective criteria justifications - ✔✔An entity is negotiating a price increase
for services that require the contractor to drive long distances. The Procurement Officer
wants to negotiate future increases based on a gas price index. The supplier wants a
fixed annual increase. What is the most appropriate negotiation approach for the
Procurement Officer to utilize
a. Prioritize potential solutions
b. Explore compatible interests
c. Develop objective criteria justifications
d. View issue from supplier's perspective
✔✔Separate people from the problem - ✔✔Due to the history of the contract dispute
there are high emotions on both sides going into the negotiation. Which negotiation
principle should receive the most attention at the beginning of the negotiation to diffuse
tension?
a. Generate options
b. Focus on interests
c. Separate people from the problem
d. Use objective criteria
✔✔Identifying unethical tactics - ✔✔Which topic is not included in negotiation
documentation?
a. Identifying unethical tactics
b. Drawing up the final agreement or contract
c. Basis for future negotiations
d. Future contract interpretation
✔✔Explain that agency procedures require that all bids be electronically posted to allow
for open and fair competition - ✔✔The end user has requested that only local suppliers
receive the solicitation. What is the best way to respond to this request?
a. Add language to the bid that only local suppliers can submit proposals
b. Explain that agency procedures require that all bids be electronically posted to allow
for open and fair competition
c. Explain that he can only put "Buy America" language in bid specifications
d. State that the WTO requires the agency to support the NAFTA program
