ACO CORB EXAM REVIEW 2026 TEST PAPER
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
● Why is inspection and acceptance important to the Government?
Answer: 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 Answer: 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? Answer: 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? Answer: 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. Answer: 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? Answer: 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. Answer:
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? Answer: 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. Answer:
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? Answer: Conduct an Initial
counseling that covers duties and expectations. Set goals and priorities.
Review and approve their Individual Development Plan (IDP), Assign a
coach and mentor. I would mentor a new CS assigned to my team by
helping them through a common SAT purchase, explaining the steps and
procedures involved. I would show them local SOPs, Policy Letters,
PCF, SAM, FARsite, and WAWF.
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
● Why is inspection and acceptance important to the Government?
Answer: 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 Answer: 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? Answer: 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? Answer: 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. Answer: 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? Answer: 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. Answer:
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? Answer: 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. Answer:
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? Answer: Conduct an Initial
counseling that covers duties and expectations. Set goals and priorities.
Review and approve their Individual Development Plan (IDP), Assign a
coach and mentor. I would mentor a new CS assigned to my team by
helping them through a common SAT purchase, explaining the steps and
procedures involved. I would show them local SOPs, Policy Letters,
PCF, SAM, FARsite, and WAWF.
