COR TRAINING LEVEL 1 QUESTIONS
Other than adequate price competition, describe at least three ways that a price can be
determined to be fair and reasonable when using simplified acquisition procedures -
Answers :a. Market Research
b. Comparison to previous purchases
c. Contracting Officer's personal knowledge of the item being purchased
d. Comparison to an IGCE
Price analysis will normally be used to determine the reasonableness of total evaluated
price to support the selection of the lowest price, technically acceptable Offeror.
Although in exceptional cases when the determination of fair and reasonable price
requires additional information, the PCO may conduct analysis to support the
determination of whether the proposed price is fair and (FAR PART 13.106-3)
Address the importance of acquisition planning. What are some things that you, as a
Contracting Officer, can do to assist the customer in acquisition planning? - Answers
:Agencies shall perform acquisition planning and conduct market research for all
acquisitions in order to promote and provide for --Acquisition of commercial items and
Full and open competition (far part 7.103)
Discuss the difference in Far Part 12 commercial procurement's and non-commercial
procurement s - Answers :Under FAR part 12 procedures the KO has more flexibility.
For example the KO can combine the synopsis and solicitation into a single document,
thus reducing time to solicit and award contracts. (FAR PART 12.603) Also Agencies
may allow less than the 30-day response time for receipt of bids or proposals from the
date of solicitation issuance which is required for non-commercial items (FAR PART
12.205)
Discuss the steps That a contracting officer can take to help minimize a protest in a
source selection - Answers :Follow the Source Selection Plan. Ensure Sections L and M
match. Do not deviate from evaluation factors. Example Thundervision
Describe the Bona Fide Need Rule. Provide an example explaining its applicability to
federal acquisition - Answers :The Bona Fide need rule is, "An appropriation should not
be used for the purchase of an article not necessary for the use of a fiscal year in which
ordered merely in order to use up such an appropriation." Buying excessive amounts of
items at end of year that an organization does not need. In my personal experience I
was about ready to place an order for $3M in computers in mid September and the
customer asked if the contractor could wait six months to drop off the items since they
had no way to store all of the items and they weren't able to connect them to the
network yet.
The COR has reported to you that the contractor has failed to deliver a service per the
contract requirements. What actions should you take as the Contracting Officer in this
instance? - Answers :confirm with the COR that the contractor didn't perform IAW the
, PWS/SOW. Go over it together to ensure contractor didn't abide by the terms and
conditions. If the contractor didn't abide, contact them to see if it can be correct
Why is it important to fully document the contract file? - Answers :Auditing purposes and
maintaining records of acquisition history
What should you do if you have any suspicion of any ethics violation or fraud? How do
you mentor and train your customer on ethics and fraud concerns?(FAR PART 3
Improper Business Practices and Personal Conflicts of Interest) - Answers :Involve legal
immediately, notify proper authorities (for fraud). Talk to customers and mentor them on
procurement integrity. Make it abundantly clear that any action taken for personal gain
is a red line. Ensure all members of the team have the required ethics training (CLM
003), and non-disclosure agreements.
What steps would you need to undertake if you recieved a contract claim? - Answers :1.
Review all pertinent information submitted by the contractor.
2. Make a KO determination
3. Send to legal review
negotiate in shortest amount of time, adjust the delivery schedule, if additional funds are
required, and are they available, bilateral modification with all pertinent points,
contractor statement of release (FAR PART 33.206)
What are the minimum elements needed to create a legally binding contract? - Answers
:All parties must agree on the offer and acceptance terms; something of value must be
exchanged. Seller agrees to furnish goods or services & buyer agrees to pay for them
What is market research, why is it important, and how is it documented? - Answers
:Market Research means collecting and analyzing information about capabilities within
the market to satisfy agency needs. (far part 2). Market research should be provided
with the requiring activity and should be documented by a summarized narrative and
include in the contract file (report). Can be documented on a stand-alone MFR/D&F,
2579, commerciality determination, etc. Determine if sources capable of satisfying
requirements exist, determine the extent to which commercial items or non-
developmental items could be incorporated at the component level, determine practices
of firms engaged in producing, distributing and supporting... determine whether
consolidation or bundling is necessary or justified, determine whether the criteria is part
19 are met for setting aside to small business. Online searches, site visits, trade shows,
conferences, knowledgeable people, previous PCOs and Specialists, etc.
How do you determine the most appropriate contract type? Give examples of when you
would use the different types. - Answers :How much risk the government wants to
assume, Factors include Price competition, price & cost analysis, complexity, urgency,
commercial services vs new weapons systems. (FAR PART 16.104)
If the contract is low risk with an established vendor base Firm Fixed price is usually the
best such as custodial requirement. With Firm fixed price all the risk is placed on the
contractor. FFP is usually not best option for R & D or new systems acquistions since
Other than adequate price competition, describe at least three ways that a price can be
determined to be fair and reasonable when using simplified acquisition procedures -
Answers :a. Market Research
b. Comparison to previous purchases
c. Contracting Officer's personal knowledge of the item being purchased
d. Comparison to an IGCE
Price analysis will normally be used to determine the reasonableness of total evaluated
price to support the selection of the lowest price, technically acceptable Offeror.
Although in exceptional cases when the determination of fair and reasonable price
requires additional information, the PCO may conduct analysis to support the
determination of whether the proposed price is fair and (FAR PART 13.106-3)
Address the importance of acquisition planning. What are some things that you, as a
Contracting Officer, can do to assist the customer in acquisition planning? - Answers
:Agencies shall perform acquisition planning and conduct market research for all
acquisitions in order to promote and provide for --Acquisition of commercial items and
Full and open competition (far part 7.103)
Discuss the difference in Far Part 12 commercial procurement's and non-commercial
procurement s - Answers :Under FAR part 12 procedures the KO has more flexibility.
For example the KO can combine the synopsis and solicitation into a single document,
thus reducing time to solicit and award contracts. (FAR PART 12.603) Also Agencies
may allow less than the 30-day response time for receipt of bids or proposals from the
date of solicitation issuance which is required for non-commercial items (FAR PART
12.205)
Discuss the steps That a contracting officer can take to help minimize a protest in a
source selection - Answers :Follow the Source Selection Plan. Ensure Sections L and M
match. Do not deviate from evaluation factors. Example Thundervision
Describe the Bona Fide Need Rule. Provide an example explaining its applicability to
federal acquisition - Answers :The Bona Fide need rule is, "An appropriation should not
be used for the purchase of an article not necessary for the use of a fiscal year in which
ordered merely in order to use up such an appropriation." Buying excessive amounts of
items at end of year that an organization does not need. In my personal experience I
was about ready to place an order for $3M in computers in mid September and the
customer asked if the contractor could wait six months to drop off the items since they
had no way to store all of the items and they weren't able to connect them to the
network yet.
The COR has reported to you that the contractor has failed to deliver a service per the
contract requirements. What actions should you take as the Contracting Officer in this
instance? - Answers :confirm with the COR that the contractor didn't perform IAW the
, PWS/SOW. Go over it together to ensure contractor didn't abide by the terms and
conditions. If the contractor didn't abide, contact them to see if it can be correct
Why is it important to fully document the contract file? - Answers :Auditing purposes and
maintaining records of acquisition history
What should you do if you have any suspicion of any ethics violation or fraud? How do
you mentor and train your customer on ethics and fraud concerns?(FAR PART 3
Improper Business Practices and Personal Conflicts of Interest) - Answers :Involve legal
immediately, notify proper authorities (for fraud). Talk to customers and mentor them on
procurement integrity. Make it abundantly clear that any action taken for personal gain
is a red line. Ensure all members of the team have the required ethics training (CLM
003), and non-disclosure agreements.
What steps would you need to undertake if you recieved a contract claim? - Answers :1.
Review all pertinent information submitted by the contractor.
2. Make a KO determination
3. Send to legal review
negotiate in shortest amount of time, adjust the delivery schedule, if additional funds are
required, and are they available, bilateral modification with all pertinent points,
contractor statement of release (FAR PART 33.206)
What are the minimum elements needed to create a legally binding contract? - Answers
:All parties must agree on the offer and acceptance terms; something of value must be
exchanged. Seller agrees to furnish goods or services & buyer agrees to pay for them
What is market research, why is it important, and how is it documented? - Answers
:Market Research means collecting and analyzing information about capabilities within
the market to satisfy agency needs. (far part 2). Market research should be provided
with the requiring activity and should be documented by a summarized narrative and
include in the contract file (report). Can be documented on a stand-alone MFR/D&F,
2579, commerciality determination, etc. Determine if sources capable of satisfying
requirements exist, determine the extent to which commercial items or non-
developmental items could be incorporated at the component level, determine practices
of firms engaged in producing, distributing and supporting... determine whether
consolidation or bundling is necessary or justified, determine whether the criteria is part
19 are met for setting aside to small business. Online searches, site visits, trade shows,
conferences, knowledgeable people, previous PCOs and Specialists, etc.
How do you determine the most appropriate contract type? Give examples of when you
would use the different types. - Answers :How much risk the government wants to
assume, Factors include Price competition, price & cost analysis, complexity, urgency,
commercial services vs new weapons systems. (FAR PART 16.104)
If the contract is low risk with an established vendor base Firm Fixed price is usually the
best such as custodial requirement. With Firm fixed price all the risk is placed on the
contractor. FFP is usually not best option for R & D or new systems acquistions since
