CPPB Prep Guide Questions With Complete
Solutions
Graded A+
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
An entity purchases several different types of mobile phones to meet employees'
preferences. This is causing inefficiencies. What action can be taken to address and
correct the inefficiencies? A. creation of performance specifications B. sole sourcing C.
benchmarking D. standardization. ANSWER -standardization
A buyer has been invited to join a supplier account rep for lunch to discuss the
performance of a contract. How should the buyer respond to the invitation? A. decline
the supplier's offer and suggest a meeting in the office B. join the supplier for lunch,
but pay for himself C. ask the end user to join the supplier and the buyer for lunch anc
count it as a business meeting D. report the supplier to the supervisor. ANSWER -
decline the supplier's offer and suggest a meeting in the office
A buyer has been working on a solicitation for several days. Now the end users have
requested that the buyer mail the bid only to local suppliers. How should the buyer
respond to this request? 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. ANSWER -explain that agency procedures
require that all bids be electronically posted to allow for open and fair competition
The ratio between inputs such as staff hours or salary and outputs is a way of
measuring what attribute? A. efficiency B. effectiveness C. contributions D. progress.
ANSWER -efficiency
Legislation enacting a sustainable procurement initiative was passed during this
legislative session. The agency has a limited staff and resources with which to
implement the legislation. What type of program would be most easily implemented?
,A. alternative fuel vehicles B. energy efficient equipment C. recycled paper D.
comprehensive recycling program. ANSWER -recycled paper
At an entity hosted small business educational and outreach workshop, the entity
small business program coordinator noticed that only a few suppliers are actively
participating in asking questions and discussion. In reaction, she works diligently to
engage other suppliers who are not contributing. What role is she assuming? A.
encourager B. observer C. information seeker D. gate keeper. ANSWER -gate keeper
The city's IT dept has a need to purchase 20 copies of a how-to-use over-the-counter
software book for various user departments within the agency. The book is commonly
available and it is estimated that the total cost would be $900, which is below the
established bid threshold. The buyer has confirmed that the book is not currently on
any agency contracts. Which type of purchase is considered most economical in this
case? A. emergency B. sole source C. pcard D. invitation for bids. ANSWER -pcard
A buyer wishes to enter into a cooperative purchase with a regional alliance that could
save a great deal of money. What is the buyer's first step? A. Determine if there is
legal authority to do this B. Determine if the cost is advantageous C. Determine if
local suppliers are impacted D. Determine if your terms and conditions are in
compliance. ANSWER -determine if there is legal authority to do this
While on vacation the Chief Procurement Officer left a Procurement Manager in
charge of operations via an interoffice memo. The Procurement Manager was faced
with an emergency purchase that needed signature for $50K. What gives him the
authority to sign for this emergency purchase? A. apparent authority B. express
authority C. the Procurement Manager has authority to sign because it is an
emergency purchase D. implied authority. ANSWER -express authority
An agency with a local small business preference program is accepting bids for a
roofing project. Only Company C is in the local jurisdiction. Businesses located
outside the local jurisdiction will have 5% of the bid amount added to their total bid
amount. Company A bids $49,300. Company B bids $49,150. Company C bids
,$51,650. Company D bids $51,640. Which company should receive the award based
on total low bid?. ANSWER -B $49,150
When all mandatory requirements of a bid are met, what is the value of competitive
quotes and competitive sealed bids? A. drives a decision based on price B. provides
evaluation guidelines on which to base the award C. provides a reliable indicator of a
robust supplier market D. it has no value. ANSWER -drives a decision based on price
What is the purpose of a cost analysis? A. compares each price quoted the entity as a
result of the bid process B. an attempt to protect reasonable cost in a cost benefit
analysis C. helps determine the supplier's costs actually incurred for the nonstandard
items D. helps determine functional requirements at the lowest possible cost without
impacting need and suitability. ANSWER -helps determine the supplier's costs
actually incurred for the nonstandard items
The Sherriff's Dept is planning on acquiring a scanner to be used on work release
inmates entering and leaving the jail. The scanner will have a lifespan of 10 years.
The price for the scanner is $11,000. Maintenance must be performed on this machine
monthly to ensure accuracy. Monthly maintenance will be $150. What is the life cycle
cost for this entire purchase? A. $11,000 B. $29,000 C. $18,000 D. $36,000.
ANSWER -$29,000
Dept of Water Resources is preparing a bid document for a new and complex
composite water meter. What action should the buyer take to better ensure responsive
bids? A. use brand name or equivalent specifications B. determine the industry
standards for meter suppliers C. determine the life cycle cost of the meter D. schedule
a pre-bid conference. ANSWER -schedule a pre-bid conference
An agency is deciding whether to purchase new or used riding mowers. What is the
most appropriate analysis method to use to make this decision? A. historical price
analysis B. life cycle cost analysis C. cost analysis D. price analysis. ANSWER -life
cycle cost analysis
, Five entity owned buildings are under renovation and the parts of these renovations
incude replacing the flooring. Each building has an estimated 4400 sq ft of floor
surface that will require new flooring. 65% will be tile and 35% will be hardwood. If
the tile is $8.00 per sq ft for the supply and install, what is the estimated cost of this
project? A. $39,820 B. $418,000 C. $218,900 D. $199,100. ANSWER -$199,100
The Sherriff's Dept is requesting that a solicitation be put out for commissary items
for the county jail. To assist in maintaining order and for the safety of county
employees and the inmates, the dept is providing the buyer with a list of specific items
to be procured. Little to no deviation from this list will be allowed. Under the
circumstances, what is the most appropriate type of specifications taht the buyer
should use? A. combination B. design C. brand name or approved equal D.
performance. ANSWER -brand name or approved
A Dept Manager has requested that the Procurement Dept issue a request for bids for
their yearly supply of pipe and fittings. The buyer researched the market and found
pricing for pipe and fittings remained relatively stable. What type of contract should
the buyer recommend? A. definite quantity term contract B. spot purchase C. time and
materials contract D. term contract. ANSWER -definite quantity term contract
The Corrections Dept has a budget of $1,000,000 annually for the purchase of frozen
vegetables. The buyer will issue an invitation for bids. How should the budget value
be handled in the solicitation? A. should be included to help the bidders understand
their effort or quality B. should be included to create a level playing field which
enhances the quality and competitiveness of responses C. it is nonessential
information for formulating a bid for this type of procurement D. including the budget
will tend to push up the bid values. ANSWER -should be included to create a level
playing field which enhances the quality and competitiveness of responses
An agency issued an invitation to tender with the lowest responsive and responsible
bidder as criteria for award. Four contractors submitted bids. The low bidder was a
contractor with whom the entity had documented performance issues in the past. The
last contract had ended with a show cause letter for poor performance when the
contract term ended. What would be the most appropriate step for the entity to take
to ensure the project will be completed on time and within budget? A. bypass the low
bid and award to the next responsive and responsible bidder B. conduct a post award
startup and conference C. conduct a briefing D. issue a conditional award subject to
Solutions
Graded A+
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
An entity purchases several different types of mobile phones to meet employees'
preferences. This is causing inefficiencies. What action can be taken to address and
correct the inefficiencies? A. creation of performance specifications B. sole sourcing C.
benchmarking D. standardization. ANSWER -standardization
A buyer has been invited to join a supplier account rep for lunch to discuss the
performance of a contract. How should the buyer respond to the invitation? A. decline
the supplier's offer and suggest a meeting in the office B. join the supplier for lunch,
but pay for himself C. ask the end user to join the supplier and the buyer for lunch anc
count it as a business meeting D. report the supplier to the supervisor. ANSWER -
decline the supplier's offer and suggest a meeting in the office
A buyer has been working on a solicitation for several days. Now the end users have
requested that the buyer mail the bid only to local suppliers. How should the buyer
respond to this request? 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. ANSWER -explain that agency procedures
require that all bids be electronically posted to allow for open and fair competition
The ratio between inputs such as staff hours or salary and outputs is a way of
measuring what attribute? A. efficiency B. effectiveness C. contributions D. progress.
ANSWER -efficiency
Legislation enacting a sustainable procurement initiative was passed during this
legislative session. The agency has a limited staff and resources with which to
implement the legislation. What type of program would be most easily implemented?
,A. alternative fuel vehicles B. energy efficient equipment C. recycled paper D.
comprehensive recycling program. ANSWER -recycled paper
At an entity hosted small business educational and outreach workshop, the entity
small business program coordinator noticed that only a few suppliers are actively
participating in asking questions and discussion. In reaction, she works diligently to
engage other suppliers who are not contributing. What role is she assuming? A.
encourager B. observer C. information seeker D. gate keeper. ANSWER -gate keeper
The city's IT dept has a need to purchase 20 copies of a how-to-use over-the-counter
software book for various user departments within the agency. The book is commonly
available and it is estimated that the total cost would be $900, which is below the
established bid threshold. The buyer has confirmed that the book is not currently on
any agency contracts. Which type of purchase is considered most economical in this
case? A. emergency B. sole source C. pcard D. invitation for bids. ANSWER -pcard
A buyer wishes to enter into a cooperative purchase with a regional alliance that could
save a great deal of money. What is the buyer's first step? A. Determine if there is
legal authority to do this B. Determine if the cost is advantageous C. Determine if
local suppliers are impacted D. Determine if your terms and conditions are in
compliance. ANSWER -determine if there is legal authority to do this
While on vacation the Chief Procurement Officer left a Procurement Manager in
charge of operations via an interoffice memo. The Procurement Manager was faced
with an emergency purchase that needed signature for $50K. What gives him the
authority to sign for this emergency purchase? A. apparent authority B. express
authority C. the Procurement Manager has authority to sign because it is an
emergency purchase D. implied authority. ANSWER -express authority
An agency with a local small business preference program is accepting bids for a
roofing project. Only Company C is in the local jurisdiction. Businesses located
outside the local jurisdiction will have 5% of the bid amount added to their total bid
amount. Company A bids $49,300. Company B bids $49,150. Company C bids
,$51,650. Company D bids $51,640. Which company should receive the award based
on total low bid?. ANSWER -B $49,150
When all mandatory requirements of a bid are met, what is the value of competitive
quotes and competitive sealed bids? A. drives a decision based on price B. provides
evaluation guidelines on which to base the award C. provides a reliable indicator of a
robust supplier market D. it has no value. ANSWER -drives a decision based on price
What is the purpose of a cost analysis? A. compares each price quoted the entity as a
result of the bid process B. an attempt to protect reasonable cost in a cost benefit
analysis C. helps determine the supplier's costs actually incurred for the nonstandard
items D. helps determine functional requirements at the lowest possible cost without
impacting need and suitability. ANSWER -helps determine the supplier's costs
actually incurred for the nonstandard items
The Sherriff's Dept is planning on acquiring a scanner to be used on work release
inmates entering and leaving the jail. The scanner will have a lifespan of 10 years.
The price for the scanner is $11,000. Maintenance must be performed on this machine
monthly to ensure accuracy. Monthly maintenance will be $150. What is the life cycle
cost for this entire purchase? A. $11,000 B. $29,000 C. $18,000 D. $36,000.
ANSWER -$29,000
Dept of Water Resources is preparing a bid document for a new and complex
composite water meter. What action should the buyer take to better ensure responsive
bids? A. use brand name or equivalent specifications B. determine the industry
standards for meter suppliers C. determine the life cycle cost of the meter D. schedule
a pre-bid conference. ANSWER -schedule a pre-bid conference
An agency is deciding whether to purchase new or used riding mowers. What is the
most appropriate analysis method to use to make this decision? A. historical price
analysis B. life cycle cost analysis C. cost analysis D. price analysis. ANSWER -life
cycle cost analysis
, Five entity owned buildings are under renovation and the parts of these renovations
incude replacing the flooring. Each building has an estimated 4400 sq ft of floor
surface that will require new flooring. 65% will be tile and 35% will be hardwood. If
the tile is $8.00 per sq ft for the supply and install, what is the estimated cost of this
project? A. $39,820 B. $418,000 C. $218,900 D. $199,100. ANSWER -$199,100
The Sherriff's Dept is requesting that a solicitation be put out for commissary items
for the county jail. To assist in maintaining order and for the safety of county
employees and the inmates, the dept is providing the buyer with a list of specific items
to be procured. Little to no deviation from this list will be allowed. Under the
circumstances, what is the most appropriate type of specifications taht the buyer
should use? A. combination B. design C. brand name or approved equal D.
performance. ANSWER -brand name or approved
A Dept Manager has requested that the Procurement Dept issue a request for bids for
their yearly supply of pipe and fittings. The buyer researched the market and found
pricing for pipe and fittings remained relatively stable. What type of contract should
the buyer recommend? A. definite quantity term contract B. spot purchase C. time and
materials contract D. term contract. ANSWER -definite quantity term contract
The Corrections Dept has a budget of $1,000,000 annually for the purchase of frozen
vegetables. The buyer will issue an invitation for bids. How should the budget value
be handled in the solicitation? A. should be included to help the bidders understand
their effort or quality B. should be included to create a level playing field which
enhances the quality and competitiveness of responses C. it is nonessential
information for formulating a bid for this type of procurement D. including the budget
will tend to push up the bid values. ANSWER -should be included to create a level
playing field which enhances the quality and competitiveness of responses
An agency issued an invitation to tender with the lowest responsive and responsible
bidder as criteria for award. Four contractors submitted bids. The low bidder was a
contractor with whom the entity had documented performance issues in the past. The
last contract had ended with a show cause letter for poor performance when the
contract term ended. What would be the most appropriate step for the entity to take
to ensure the project will be completed on time and within budget? A. bypass the low
bid and award to the next responsive and responsible bidder B. conduct a post award
startup and conference C. conduct a briefing D. issue a conditional award subject to
