1
CON 3990V Contracting Certification Exam DoD
Professional Certification Actual Exam
2026/2027 with Detailed Rationales | Complete
Exam-Style Questions | Pass Guaranteed – A+
Graded
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section 1 | Guiding Principles | Q1 – Q36
Section 2 | Pre-Award | Q37 – Q72
Section 3 | Award | Q73 – Q102
Section 4 | Post-Award | Q103 – Q136
Section 5 | Contract Closeout | Q137 – Q150
Instructions: Choose the single best answer. Pass: 70% in 180 minutes.
══════════════════════════════════════
SECTION 1: GUIDING PRINCIPLES Q1 – Q36
══════════════════════════════════════
Question 1 of 150
A program manager requests to sole-source a contract to a specific vendor and
mentions that the vendor has already begun performing the work to save time. The
contracting officer must determine the appropriate course of action.
A. Ratify the unauthorized commitment immediately since work has begun.
B. Verify if a valid exception to full and open competition exists under FAR Part 6.
✓ CORRECT
,2
C. Issue a modification to the existing requirements contract to cover the new
work.
D. Terminate the vendor's current work and restart the competitive process from
scratch.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: FAR Part 6 requires full and open competition unless a specific
statutory exception applies, and beginning work without a contract constitutes an
unauthorized commitment. Choice A is incorrect because ratification requires
specific findings and cannot simply be done immediately to save time. Contracting
officers must ensure a valid exception is documented before proceeding with any
non-competitive action.
Question 2 of 150
During a site visit, a contracting officer is offered a complimentary bag of
expensive golf clubs by a prospective offeror. The contracting officer needs to
respond in accordance with ethical standards.
A. Accept the gift but report it to the agency ethics official within 30 days.
B. Decline the gift because it exceeds the minimal value and violates FAR Part 3.
✓ CORRECT
C. Accept the gift on behalf of the agency and donate it to a local charity.
D. Pay the vendor the fair market value of the golf clubs to keep them.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: FAR Part 3 strictly prohibits accepting gifts from prospective
contractors that exceed minimal value, as it creates a conflict of interest. Choice D
is incorrect because paying fair market value is only permitted in specific, narrow
circumstances outside of solicitation site visits, and golf clubs clearly exceed the
threshold. Federal personnel must aggressively avoid even the appearance of
impropriety during the acquisition lifecycle.
Question 3 of 150
,3
A contracting officer is reviewing a requirement that involves acquiring IT
software and needs to determine if it meets the definition of a commercial product
under FAR Part 2.
A. The software must be custom-built specifically for the agency to be
commercial.
B. The software must be sold or offered for sale to the general public to be
commercial. ✓ CORRECT
C. The software must have a minimum of three competitors in the marketplace.
D. The software must be available at a fixed price without any customization
options.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: FAR Part 2 defines a commercial product as one sold or offered for sale
to the general public, among other criteria. Choice A is incorrect because custom-
built items specifically for the agency generally do not meet the commercial
product definition. Using commercial item definitions streamlines the acquisition
process by reducing unnecessary regulatory burdens.
Question 4 of 150
An unauthorized commitment was made by a technical representative who ordered
$5,000 worth of supplies without a contract. The contracting officer is now tasked
with resolving the issue.
A. The contracting officer must process this as a novation agreement under FAR
Part 5.
B. The contracting officer must review the facts and determine if ratification is
appropriate under FAR Part 1. ✓ CORRECT
C. The technical representative must be terminated for violating the Anti-
Deficiency Act.
D. The agency must automatically pay the vendor under an implied-in-fact contract
theory.
Correct Answer: B
, 4
Rationale: FAR Part 1 provides the authority for agency heads to ratify
unauthorized commitments after reviewing the specific facts and determining
certain conditions are met. Choice D is incorrect because the government does not
automatically pay; a formal ratification determination must be made first.
Contracting officers must ensure all elements of ratification are satisfied before
obligating funds.
Question 5 of 150
A contractor submits a claim under the Contract Disputes Act for $150,000. The
contracting officer must decide on the proper procedure for handling this claim.
A. The claim must be submitted directly to the Court of Federal Claims.
B. The claim must be processed and a final decision issued by the contracting
officer within 60 days. ✓ CORRECT
C. The claim must be referred to the agency Inspector General for fraud
investigation.
D. The claim must be negotiated as a contract modification under FAR Part 43.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Under the Contract Disputes Act, a claim exceeding $100,000 must be
processed by the contracting officer, who must issue a final decision within 60
days of receipt. Choice A is incorrect because the contractor must first submit the
claim to the contracting officer for a final decision before appealing to a court.
Ensuring strict adherence to CDA timelines prevents procedural dismissal of the
government's position.
Question 6 of 150
A new contracting specialist is unsure whether to classify an agreement as a
contract or a memorandum of understanding. The specialist needs to understand
the fundamental elements of a contract.
A. An MOU is a contract if it includes a scope of work and a payment term.
CON 3990V Contracting Certification Exam DoD
Professional Certification Actual Exam
2026/2027 with Detailed Rationales | Complete
Exam-Style Questions | Pass Guaranteed – A+
Graded
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section 1 | Guiding Principles | Q1 – Q36
Section 2 | Pre-Award | Q37 – Q72
Section 3 | Award | Q73 – Q102
Section 4 | Post-Award | Q103 – Q136
Section 5 | Contract Closeout | Q137 – Q150
Instructions: Choose the single best answer. Pass: 70% in 180 minutes.
══════════════════════════════════════
SECTION 1: GUIDING PRINCIPLES Q1 – Q36
══════════════════════════════════════
Question 1 of 150
A program manager requests to sole-source a contract to a specific vendor and
mentions that the vendor has already begun performing the work to save time. The
contracting officer must determine the appropriate course of action.
A. Ratify the unauthorized commitment immediately since work has begun.
B. Verify if a valid exception to full and open competition exists under FAR Part 6.
✓ CORRECT
,2
C. Issue a modification to the existing requirements contract to cover the new
work.
D. Terminate the vendor's current work and restart the competitive process from
scratch.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: FAR Part 6 requires full and open competition unless a specific
statutory exception applies, and beginning work without a contract constitutes an
unauthorized commitment. Choice A is incorrect because ratification requires
specific findings and cannot simply be done immediately to save time. Contracting
officers must ensure a valid exception is documented before proceeding with any
non-competitive action.
Question 2 of 150
During a site visit, a contracting officer is offered a complimentary bag of
expensive golf clubs by a prospective offeror. The contracting officer needs to
respond in accordance with ethical standards.
A. Accept the gift but report it to the agency ethics official within 30 days.
B. Decline the gift because it exceeds the minimal value and violates FAR Part 3.
✓ CORRECT
C. Accept the gift on behalf of the agency and donate it to a local charity.
D. Pay the vendor the fair market value of the golf clubs to keep them.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: FAR Part 3 strictly prohibits accepting gifts from prospective
contractors that exceed minimal value, as it creates a conflict of interest. Choice D
is incorrect because paying fair market value is only permitted in specific, narrow
circumstances outside of solicitation site visits, and golf clubs clearly exceed the
threshold. Federal personnel must aggressively avoid even the appearance of
impropriety during the acquisition lifecycle.
Question 3 of 150
,3
A contracting officer is reviewing a requirement that involves acquiring IT
software and needs to determine if it meets the definition of a commercial product
under FAR Part 2.
A. The software must be custom-built specifically for the agency to be
commercial.
B. The software must be sold or offered for sale to the general public to be
commercial. ✓ CORRECT
C. The software must have a minimum of three competitors in the marketplace.
D. The software must be available at a fixed price without any customization
options.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: FAR Part 2 defines a commercial product as one sold or offered for sale
to the general public, among other criteria. Choice A is incorrect because custom-
built items specifically for the agency generally do not meet the commercial
product definition. Using commercial item definitions streamlines the acquisition
process by reducing unnecessary regulatory burdens.
Question 4 of 150
An unauthorized commitment was made by a technical representative who ordered
$5,000 worth of supplies without a contract. The contracting officer is now tasked
with resolving the issue.
A. The contracting officer must process this as a novation agreement under FAR
Part 5.
B. The contracting officer must review the facts and determine if ratification is
appropriate under FAR Part 1. ✓ CORRECT
C. The technical representative must be terminated for violating the Anti-
Deficiency Act.
D. The agency must automatically pay the vendor under an implied-in-fact contract
theory.
Correct Answer: B
, 4
Rationale: FAR Part 1 provides the authority for agency heads to ratify
unauthorized commitments after reviewing the specific facts and determining
certain conditions are met. Choice D is incorrect because the government does not
automatically pay; a formal ratification determination must be made first.
Contracting officers must ensure all elements of ratification are satisfied before
obligating funds.
Question 5 of 150
A contractor submits a claim under the Contract Disputes Act for $150,000. The
contracting officer must decide on the proper procedure for handling this claim.
A. The claim must be submitted directly to the Court of Federal Claims.
B. The claim must be processed and a final decision issued by the contracting
officer within 60 days. ✓ CORRECT
C. The claim must be referred to the agency Inspector General for fraud
investigation.
D. The claim must be negotiated as a contract modification under FAR Part 43.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Under the Contract Disputes Act, a claim exceeding $100,000 must be
processed by the contracting officer, who must issue a final decision within 60
days of receipt. Choice A is incorrect because the contractor must first submit the
claim to the contracting officer for a final decision before appealing to a court.
Ensuring strict adherence to CDA timelines prevents procedural dismissal of the
government's position.
Question 6 of 150
A new contracting specialist is unsure whether to classify an agreement as a
contract or a memorandum of understanding. The specialist needs to understand
the fundamental elements of a contract.
A. An MOU is a contract if it includes a scope of work and a payment term.
