COR 2024 extended exam
You receive a customer's procurement package. In it, the PWS addresses key personnel
required. The customer wants to evaluate the availability and commitment of the proposed key
personnel when evaluating offers. What would you recommend the customer include in the
instructions to offerors for proposal submission requirements and evaluation factors? -
ANSWERS-I would recommend that the customer include a requirement for commitment letters
from all vendors and state in the solicitation that key personnel with also be evaluated by both
their qualifications and by evaluating their commitment letter. Section L - Instructions,
Conditions and Notices to Bidders, Section M - Evaluation Factors for Award.
Why is inspection and acceptance important to the Government? - ANSWERS-FAR 46.5 Risk of
loss of or damage to supplies shall remain with the contractor until, and shall pass to the
Government upon Delivery or Acceptance. After 30 days without rejection, it is considered
accepted by the GOV. The KO wants to ensure the COR inspects all received supplies and
services to ensure we get what we ordered and are good stewards of the taxpayers money. To
prevent fraud, waste and abuse. It is part of the quality assurance.
Explain the difference between an offeror's experience and an offeror's past performance -
ANSWERS-Experience details work that the contractor has done in scale and scope. Past
performance is a report of how well they did. Performance can be obtained by CPARS, Past
Performance Retrieval System (PPIRS), and surveys.
**
How would you define depth and breadth of an offeror's experience to be included in a
solicitation/evaluation? - ANSWERS-Breadth of experience reflects the Offeror's experience in
performing the full range/all of the efforts required. Depth of experience reflects the
magnitude, significance, and applicability/relevance of the Offeror's experience in performing
,each of the efforts required. An offeror's past performance should only be included if it is similar
in nature to the new solicitation that is being evaluated. It could be the
qualifications/certification that the offeror has or previous/relevant work that the offeror had
completed.
A legally binding contract must contain what elements? - ANSWERS-An offer and an acceptance.
1. Component Parties (capacity, competence, and Authority) 2. Mutual Assent (binding offer,
valid acceptance, and meeting of the minds) 3. Consideration (the bargained for legal value of
the deal) 4. Certainty of terms (the contract must be unambiguous) 5. Lawful purpose
(Violations of the law will not be enforced)
Explain the "Bona Fide Needs" rule. - ANSWERS-It is a rule of appropriations law. It mandates
that a fiscal year's appropriations only be obligated to meet a legitimate—or bona fide—need
arising in (or sometimes before) the fiscal year for which the appropriation was made. Penalty is
Job, 2 years in Jail and $5K fine or both.
What is the order of precedence for a solicitation or contract in accordance with FAR 52.215-8?
For example, the specifications require a different item than is stated in the Schedule (Section
B). What does the contractor use? - ANSWERS-Order of precedence Rule: UCF: a tiebreaker
based on where the argument is in the contract and not in the contract itself.
(a) The Schedule (excluding the specifications).
(b) Representations and other instructions.
(c) Contract clauses.
(d) Other documents, exhibits, and attachments.
(e) The specifications.
Once all receivables have been delivered/completed and verified by the customer/COR, the ACO
or KO reviews the contract files for remaining closeout actions. Why is contract closeout so
important? What actions need to be taken in closeout? Closeouts is required per FAR 4.804, it is
necessary to ensure all actions under contract are complete, final payment is processed, and
left-over funds are deobligated. - ANSWERS-1. Required deliveries completed and accepted by
the GOV.
, 2. All services performed and accepted by GOV.
3. All option provisions if any expired.
4. GOV gives the contractor notice. Past performance evaluation (if required). Completion
settlement and final voucher submitted. Second, release of claims signed. DD 1594 Contract
Completion Statement and 1597.
On a full and open competitive negotiated acquisition, you have received five proposals and
determined that discussions are needed, what is the process of determining which offerors are
in the competitive range for these discussions? - ANSWERS-If the Contracting Officer decides
that an offeror's proposal should no longer be included in the competitive range, the proposal
will be eliminated from further consideration for award. The Contracting Officer must provide
written notice of this decision to unsuccessful offerors in accordance with FAR Part 15.503(a).
The notice to each offeror must state (1) the basis for excluding/eliminating its offer, (2) the
basis for the determination, and (3) that a revision of its proposal will not be considered.
The Contracting Officer must prepare a written competitive range determination based on all
evaluation factors, including a complete rationale for decisions to include or exclude specific
proposals from the competitive range. This document is the Competitive Range Determination
memorandum.
If you have a competitive requirement, how will you determine the Best Value Approach to use
in regards to choosing LPTA or Tradeoff? Also, give at least one example when each is
appropriate. - ANSWERS-LPTA is when price is the most important factor. Lowest price, no
tradeoff. Tradeoff is when other factors outweigh cost. It is the most flexible. We always
consider cost. Evaluation of factors in mandatory on contracts exceeding $1MIL. (Price, quality
or technical, Past Performance). Tradeoff would usually be used in more complicated
requirements where certain qualities are more important to the customer than others. LPTA
would be used for simpler supply buys.
How would you mentor a new Contract Specialist (recent intern graduate) that has been
assigned to your team? What tools would you provide to your specialist in accomplishing their
duties? What tools do you use in accomplishing your duties? - ANSWERS-Conduct an Initial
counseling that covers duties and expectations. Set goals and priorities. Review and approve
You receive a customer's procurement package. In it, the PWS addresses key personnel
required. The customer wants to evaluate the availability and commitment of the proposed key
personnel when evaluating offers. What would you recommend the customer include in the
instructions to offerors for proposal submission requirements and evaluation factors? -
ANSWERS-I would recommend that the customer include a requirement for commitment letters
from all vendors and state in the solicitation that key personnel with also be evaluated by both
their qualifications and by evaluating their commitment letter. Section L - Instructions,
Conditions and Notices to Bidders, Section M - Evaluation Factors for Award.
Why is inspection and acceptance important to the Government? - ANSWERS-FAR 46.5 Risk of
loss of or damage to supplies shall remain with the contractor until, and shall pass to the
Government upon Delivery or Acceptance. After 30 days without rejection, it is considered
accepted by the GOV. The KO wants to ensure the COR inspects all received supplies and
services to ensure we get what we ordered and are good stewards of the taxpayers money. To
prevent fraud, waste and abuse. It is part of the quality assurance.
Explain the difference between an offeror's experience and an offeror's past performance -
ANSWERS-Experience details work that the contractor has done in scale and scope. Past
performance is a report of how well they did. Performance can be obtained by CPARS, Past
Performance Retrieval System (PPIRS), and surveys.
**
How would you define depth and breadth of an offeror's experience to be included in a
solicitation/evaluation? - ANSWERS-Breadth of experience reflects the Offeror's experience in
performing the full range/all of the efforts required. Depth of experience reflects the
magnitude, significance, and applicability/relevance of the Offeror's experience in performing
,each of the efforts required. An offeror's past performance should only be included if it is similar
in nature to the new solicitation that is being evaluated. It could be the
qualifications/certification that the offeror has or previous/relevant work that the offeror had
completed.
A legally binding contract must contain what elements? - ANSWERS-An offer and an acceptance.
1. Component Parties (capacity, competence, and Authority) 2. Mutual Assent (binding offer,
valid acceptance, and meeting of the minds) 3. Consideration (the bargained for legal value of
the deal) 4. Certainty of terms (the contract must be unambiguous) 5. Lawful purpose
(Violations of the law will not be enforced)
Explain the "Bona Fide Needs" rule. - ANSWERS-It is a rule of appropriations law. It mandates
that a fiscal year's appropriations only be obligated to meet a legitimate—or bona fide—need
arising in (or sometimes before) the fiscal year for which the appropriation was made. Penalty is
Job, 2 years in Jail and $5K fine or both.
What is the order of precedence for a solicitation or contract in accordance with FAR 52.215-8?
For example, the specifications require a different item than is stated in the Schedule (Section
B). What does the contractor use? - ANSWERS-Order of precedence Rule: UCF: a tiebreaker
based on where the argument is in the contract and not in the contract itself.
(a) The Schedule (excluding the specifications).
(b) Representations and other instructions.
(c) Contract clauses.
(d) Other documents, exhibits, and attachments.
(e) The specifications.
Once all receivables have been delivered/completed and verified by the customer/COR, the ACO
or KO reviews the contract files for remaining closeout actions. Why is contract closeout so
important? What actions need to be taken in closeout? Closeouts is required per FAR 4.804, it is
necessary to ensure all actions under contract are complete, final payment is processed, and
left-over funds are deobligated. - ANSWERS-1. Required deliveries completed and accepted by
the GOV.
, 2. All services performed and accepted by GOV.
3. All option provisions if any expired.
4. GOV gives the contractor notice. Past performance evaluation (if required). Completion
settlement and final voucher submitted. Second, release of claims signed. DD 1594 Contract
Completion Statement and 1597.
On a full and open competitive negotiated acquisition, you have received five proposals and
determined that discussions are needed, what is the process of determining which offerors are
in the competitive range for these discussions? - ANSWERS-If the Contracting Officer decides
that an offeror's proposal should no longer be included in the competitive range, the proposal
will be eliminated from further consideration for award. The Contracting Officer must provide
written notice of this decision to unsuccessful offerors in accordance with FAR Part 15.503(a).
The notice to each offeror must state (1) the basis for excluding/eliminating its offer, (2) the
basis for the determination, and (3) that a revision of its proposal will not be considered.
The Contracting Officer must prepare a written competitive range determination based on all
evaluation factors, including a complete rationale for decisions to include or exclude specific
proposals from the competitive range. This document is the Competitive Range Determination
memorandum.
If you have a competitive requirement, how will you determine the Best Value Approach to use
in regards to choosing LPTA or Tradeoff? Also, give at least one example when each is
appropriate. - ANSWERS-LPTA is when price is the most important factor. Lowest price, no
tradeoff. Tradeoff is when other factors outweigh cost. It is the most flexible. We always
consider cost. Evaluation of factors in mandatory on contracts exceeding $1MIL. (Price, quality
or technical, Past Performance). Tradeoff would usually be used in more complicated
requirements where certain qualities are more important to the customer than others. LPTA
would be used for simpler supply buys.
How would you mentor a new Contract Specialist (recent intern graduate) that has been
assigned to your team? What tools would you provide to your specialist in accomplishing their
duties? What tools do you use in accomplishing your duties? - ANSWERS-Conduct an Initial
counseling that covers duties and expectations. Set goals and priorities. Review and approve
