ACO CORB UPDATED STUDYS EXAMS QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS GUARANTEE A+
✔✔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. - ✔✔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? -
✔✔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.
✔✔What is an unauthorized commitment? What steps do you take in evaluating,
processing and approving an unauthorized commitment? - ✔✔An unauthorized
commitment is $$ committed by an individual who did not have the authority to obligate
the $$. To approve a UC, you will need to go through the ratification process.
Unauthorized commitments violate federal law, federal regulations, and the
Government-wide Standards of Conduct for Federal Employees, and the DFARS.
Ratification. Cases that cannot be ratified under FAR 1.602-3 may be subject to
resolution as authorized by FAR Subpart 33.2, Disputes and Appeals.
✔✔What do you envision is the role of your CORs? When are you required to appoint
one? What authorities are you allowed to delegate to your COR? What authorities are
not delegable to the COR? - ✔✔The KO usually delegates surveillance and status
reporting under FAR PART 42. The COR is the eyes and ears of the Contracting
Officer. Shall be certified and maintain certification. CORs are not authorized to make
commitments. CORs must be a government employees. CORs duties are to promptly
inspect services, ID if they meet or do not meet AQL, SAT or UNSAT completion, and
complete performance evaluation. The COR accepts and inspects goods and services.
At the DoD level, the guidance for when a COR is required to be designated is not tied
to a dollar threshold. It requires a more subjective analysis surrounding the risk of
contract performance and oversight the government wishes to have. That said, there is
guidance for use in making this decision. Unless you have local or agency level policy
we are unaware of, the guidance you need can be found at DFARS PGI 201.602-
2(iv)(A), which states:
,"Contracting officers shall designate a COR for all service contracts, including both firm
fixed price and other than firm fixed price contracts, awarded by a DoD component or by
any other Federal agency on behalf of DoD. The surveillance activities performed by
CORs should be tailored to the dollar value/complexity of the specific contract for which
they are designated. Contracting officers may exempt service contracts from this
requirement when (each of) the following three conditions are met:
(1) The contract will be awarded using simplified acquisition procedures;
(2) The requirement is not complex; and
(3) The contracting officer documents the file, in writing, why the appointment of a COR
is unnecessary.
For cost reimbursement contracts that are not service contracts, contracting officers
shall either retain or delegate surveillance activities to a COR or DCMA."
If there is no COR assigned; then ultimately the contracti
✔✔What is the difference between a commercial "Test Program" procurement (FAR
13.5) and a commercial procurement that is not utilizing the test program (FAR 12)? -
✔✔They both use the SAP procedures. Part 13.5 threshold is $7 million, while
commercial is $150K. Test program is for certain commercial items up to $7 million and
Simplified Acq Procedures could be used. Commercial procurement not utilizing test
program (FAR 12) can be used with procedures in FAR Parts 13, 14 , and 15.
✔✔Your contractor presents you with a request for equitable adjustment (claim).
Describe your process/steps that you will take in evaluating, processing and approving
a claim? FAR 33.206 Initiation of a claim. - ✔✔Only the KO has the authority to settle a
claim. Two things needed for a claim. There is a 6 year statute of limitations to file a
claim. 1. A complaint. 2. KO issues a KO final decision. A T4D is considered a final
decision. For a REA there needs to be 1. Contractor must assert their right to
Entitlement and evidence. 2. A quantity or dollar amount. There are two types of
entitlements 1. Direct and 2. Consequential. The government will pay direct costs and
will not always pay consequential costs.
✔✔Your customer has submitted a requirement and states that only one source can
meet their requirements. Describe your process/steps that you will take in evaluating,
processing and approving or rejecting a sole source acquisition? Discuss any
differences in the process based on different threshold levels. Sole source Justification
and Approval. - ✔✔Market research to confirm market conditions. Document it with a
J&A with facts that support sole source. $650 or less KO, $650-12.5MIL competition
advocate, 12.5 MIL - $85MIL is the PARC. 6.303-1 -- Requirements.
(a) A contracting officer shall not commence negotiations for a sole source contract,
commence negotiations for a contract resulting from an unsolicited proposal, or award
any other contract without providing for full and open competition unless the contracting
officer --
(1) Justifies, if required in 6.302, the use of such actions in writing;
(2) Certifies the accuracy and completeness of the justification; and
(3) Obtains the approval required by 6.304.
, (b) The contracting officer shall not award a sole-source contract under the 8(a)
authority (15 U.S.C. 637(a)) for an amount exceeding $22 million unless--
(1) The contracting officer justifies the use of a sole-source contract in writing in
accordance with 6.303-2;
(2) The justification is approved by the appropriate official designated at 6.304; and(3)
The justification and related information are made public after award in accordance with
6.305.
(c) Technical and requirements personnel are responsible for providing and certifying as
accurate and complete necessary data to support their recommendation for other than
full and open competition.
(d) Justifications required by paragraph (a) above may be made on an individual or
class basis. Any justification for contracts awarded under the authority of 6.302-7 shall
only be made on an individual basis. Whenever a justification is made and approved on
a class basis, the contracting officer must ensure that each contract action taken
pursuant to the authority of the class justification and approval is within the scope of the
class justification and approval and shall document the contract file for each contract
✔✔Your customer has submitted an urgent requirement and believes that we should
limit the number of sources or go to only one source. Describe your process/steps that
you will take in validating the urgency and either processing and approving a sole
source/limited source J&A or denying it. Address any leniencies associated with
urgency (synopsis, posting, etc.) if any. - ✔✔See answer #16.
✔✔How do you determine the most appropriate contract type? Give examples of when
you would use the different types. - ✔✔The contract type depends on the complexity,
threshold, how well defined the requirement is, Commercial vs. developmental. The two
types of contracts are fixed price (known price, work defined) and cost reimbursement
(cannot define costs, work not defined). Incentive contracting include Cost Plus
Incentive Fee (CPIF) and Fixed price incentive Fee (FPIF). CPIF have a min and max
fees based on cost savings incentive. FPIF has no min or max fee but has a ceiling
price more profit for less costs. Less profit for more costs. Target costs / target profit.
✔✔How do you determine a prospective contractor to be responsible? Are there any
differences in that process for contracts under the SAT versus contracts exceeding the
SAT? If so, what are they? - ✔✔KOs are responsible for ensuring that contract awards
are made only to responsible prospective contractors. This requirement is for
competitive and non-competitive contracts. Before awarding a contract above SAT, the
KO must review information provided in Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity
Information System (FAPIIS).
1. Does the company have adequate financial resources or able to attain them 2. Will
the company be able to comply with required delivery or performance schedule? 3.
Have a satisfactory performance record. 4. Have a satisfactory record of integrity and
business ethics.
SOLUTIONS GUARANTEE A+
✔✔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. - ✔✔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? -
✔✔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.
✔✔What is an unauthorized commitment? What steps do you take in evaluating,
processing and approving an unauthorized commitment? - ✔✔An unauthorized
commitment is $$ committed by an individual who did not have the authority to obligate
the $$. To approve a UC, you will need to go through the ratification process.
Unauthorized commitments violate federal law, federal regulations, and the
Government-wide Standards of Conduct for Federal Employees, and the DFARS.
Ratification. Cases that cannot be ratified under FAR 1.602-3 may be subject to
resolution as authorized by FAR Subpart 33.2, Disputes and Appeals.
✔✔What do you envision is the role of your CORs? When are you required to appoint
one? What authorities are you allowed to delegate to your COR? What authorities are
not delegable to the COR? - ✔✔The KO usually delegates surveillance and status
reporting under FAR PART 42. The COR is the eyes and ears of the Contracting
Officer. Shall be certified and maintain certification. CORs are not authorized to make
commitments. CORs must be a government employees. CORs duties are to promptly
inspect services, ID if they meet or do not meet AQL, SAT or UNSAT completion, and
complete performance evaluation. The COR accepts and inspects goods and services.
At the DoD level, the guidance for when a COR is required to be designated is not tied
to a dollar threshold. It requires a more subjective analysis surrounding the risk of
contract performance and oversight the government wishes to have. That said, there is
guidance for use in making this decision. Unless you have local or agency level policy
we are unaware of, the guidance you need can be found at DFARS PGI 201.602-
2(iv)(A), which states:
,"Contracting officers shall designate a COR for all service contracts, including both firm
fixed price and other than firm fixed price contracts, awarded by a DoD component or by
any other Federal agency on behalf of DoD. The surveillance activities performed by
CORs should be tailored to the dollar value/complexity of the specific contract for which
they are designated. Contracting officers may exempt service contracts from this
requirement when (each of) the following three conditions are met:
(1) The contract will be awarded using simplified acquisition procedures;
(2) The requirement is not complex; and
(3) The contracting officer documents the file, in writing, why the appointment of a COR
is unnecessary.
For cost reimbursement contracts that are not service contracts, contracting officers
shall either retain or delegate surveillance activities to a COR or DCMA."
If there is no COR assigned; then ultimately the contracti
✔✔What is the difference between a commercial "Test Program" procurement (FAR
13.5) and a commercial procurement that is not utilizing the test program (FAR 12)? -
✔✔They both use the SAP procedures. Part 13.5 threshold is $7 million, while
commercial is $150K. Test program is for certain commercial items up to $7 million and
Simplified Acq Procedures could be used. Commercial procurement not utilizing test
program (FAR 12) can be used with procedures in FAR Parts 13, 14 , and 15.
✔✔Your contractor presents you with a request for equitable adjustment (claim).
Describe your process/steps that you will take in evaluating, processing and approving
a claim? FAR 33.206 Initiation of a claim. - ✔✔Only the KO has the authority to settle a
claim. Two things needed for a claim. There is a 6 year statute of limitations to file a
claim. 1. A complaint. 2. KO issues a KO final decision. A T4D is considered a final
decision. For a REA there needs to be 1. Contractor must assert their right to
Entitlement and evidence. 2. A quantity or dollar amount. There are two types of
entitlements 1. Direct and 2. Consequential. The government will pay direct costs and
will not always pay consequential costs.
✔✔Your customer has submitted a requirement and states that only one source can
meet their requirements. Describe your process/steps that you will take in evaluating,
processing and approving or rejecting a sole source acquisition? Discuss any
differences in the process based on different threshold levels. Sole source Justification
and Approval. - ✔✔Market research to confirm market conditions. Document it with a
J&A with facts that support sole source. $650 or less KO, $650-12.5MIL competition
advocate, 12.5 MIL - $85MIL is the PARC. 6.303-1 -- Requirements.
(a) A contracting officer shall not commence negotiations for a sole source contract,
commence negotiations for a contract resulting from an unsolicited proposal, or award
any other contract without providing for full and open competition unless the contracting
officer --
(1) Justifies, if required in 6.302, the use of such actions in writing;
(2) Certifies the accuracy and completeness of the justification; and
(3) Obtains the approval required by 6.304.
, (b) The contracting officer shall not award a sole-source contract under the 8(a)
authority (15 U.S.C. 637(a)) for an amount exceeding $22 million unless--
(1) The contracting officer justifies the use of a sole-source contract in writing in
accordance with 6.303-2;
(2) The justification is approved by the appropriate official designated at 6.304; and(3)
The justification and related information are made public after award in accordance with
6.305.
(c) Technical and requirements personnel are responsible for providing and certifying as
accurate and complete necessary data to support their recommendation for other than
full and open competition.
(d) Justifications required by paragraph (a) above may be made on an individual or
class basis. Any justification for contracts awarded under the authority of 6.302-7 shall
only be made on an individual basis. Whenever a justification is made and approved on
a class basis, the contracting officer must ensure that each contract action taken
pursuant to the authority of the class justification and approval is within the scope of the
class justification and approval and shall document the contract file for each contract
✔✔Your customer has submitted an urgent requirement and believes that we should
limit the number of sources or go to only one source. Describe your process/steps that
you will take in validating the urgency and either processing and approving a sole
source/limited source J&A or denying it. Address any leniencies associated with
urgency (synopsis, posting, etc.) if any. - ✔✔See answer #16.
✔✔How do you determine the most appropriate contract type? Give examples of when
you would use the different types. - ✔✔The contract type depends on the complexity,
threshold, how well defined the requirement is, Commercial vs. developmental. The two
types of contracts are fixed price (known price, work defined) and cost reimbursement
(cannot define costs, work not defined). Incentive contracting include Cost Plus
Incentive Fee (CPIF) and Fixed price incentive Fee (FPIF). CPIF have a min and max
fees based on cost savings incentive. FPIF has no min or max fee but has a ceiling
price more profit for less costs. Less profit for more costs. Target costs / target profit.
✔✔How do you determine a prospective contractor to be responsible? Are there any
differences in that process for contracts under the SAT versus contracts exceeding the
SAT? If so, what are they? - ✔✔KOs are responsible for ensuring that contract awards
are made only to responsible prospective contractors. This requirement is for
competitive and non-competitive contracts. Before awarding a contract above SAT, the
KO must review information provided in Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity
Information System (FAPIIS).
1. Does the company have adequate financial resources or able to attain them 2. Will
the company be able to comply with required delivery or performance schedule? 3.
Have a satisfactory performance record. 4. Have a satisfactory record of integrity and
business ethics.
