OMES CPO COMPREHENSIVE EXAM 2026
QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ Good Faith. Answer: Each party must act with honesty & integrity &
should not attempt to deceive or defraud another party
◉ Fiduciary Duty. Answer: "An individual's obligation to serve the best
interests of selected stakeholders [taxpayers], especially those of their
employer [the state]" - NASPO
◉ Primary objective of public procurement. Answer: Satisfy the
minimum need of the organization
◉ Barriers to maximum competition that disenable smaller bidders to
compete. Answer: Making solicitations unnecessarily restrictive and
"bundling" items or services so that smaller bidders are unable to
compete
Ex: Requiring a statewide 2-hour response time on a maintenance
contract that restricts the award to one vendor. A multiple-award option
increases competition.
◉ Private sector vs. public sector procurement. Answer: § In the private
sector, a buyer can do whatever is not prohibited by law
,§ In the public sector, a buyer can do ONLY what is authorized by law
and implementing rules
◉ State Agency Chief Administrative Officer (CAO). Answer: Sign a
sole source/sole brand certification
◉ In order to acquire surplus property. Answer: The agency must contact
property distribution to determine property availability.
◉ Statewide contract. Answer: Written with a provision and a specific
period allowing state agencies to place orders as acquisitions are needed.
◉ Exempt from Bid. Answer: Procurements that are made under the
State Use Act are listed this way.
◉ The dollar threshold for a mandatory statewide contract. Answer: Any
amount can be used to create this.
◉ A determination of bidder "responsibility" made by the contracting
officer when choosing a bidder.. Answer: The bidder must have the
financial resources to complete the contracted work.
◉ Disqualified Bidder. Answer: What happens when any of the bid
specifications are used by the bidder.
, ◉ The basis for contract award decisions. Answer: In a solicitation the
evaluation criteria for the award informs prospective bidders.
◉ Limit contact. Answer: During the solicitation process the contracting
officer does this between suppliers and agency personnel
◉ Reciprocity. Answer: Something applied against a bidder whose home
jurisdiction has preference
◉ State Agency Chief Administrative Officer (CAO). Answer: Required
to sign the document ratifying an unauthorized commitment
◉ Nonresponsive. Answer: If a vendor refuses to submit a VPAT they
are considered to be this.
◉ Lowest responsible bidder. Answer: To be awarded construction
contracts, the bidder must be this.
◉ To encourage collaboration. Answer: The primary goal of the Open
Range Program
QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ Good Faith. Answer: Each party must act with honesty & integrity &
should not attempt to deceive or defraud another party
◉ Fiduciary Duty. Answer: "An individual's obligation to serve the best
interests of selected stakeholders [taxpayers], especially those of their
employer [the state]" - NASPO
◉ Primary objective of public procurement. Answer: Satisfy the
minimum need of the organization
◉ Barriers to maximum competition that disenable smaller bidders to
compete. Answer: Making solicitations unnecessarily restrictive and
"bundling" items or services so that smaller bidders are unable to
compete
Ex: Requiring a statewide 2-hour response time on a maintenance
contract that restricts the award to one vendor. A multiple-award option
increases competition.
◉ Private sector vs. public sector procurement. Answer: § In the private
sector, a buyer can do whatever is not prohibited by law
,§ In the public sector, a buyer can do ONLY what is authorized by law
and implementing rules
◉ State Agency Chief Administrative Officer (CAO). Answer: Sign a
sole source/sole brand certification
◉ In order to acquire surplus property. Answer: The agency must contact
property distribution to determine property availability.
◉ Statewide contract. Answer: Written with a provision and a specific
period allowing state agencies to place orders as acquisitions are needed.
◉ Exempt from Bid. Answer: Procurements that are made under the
State Use Act are listed this way.
◉ The dollar threshold for a mandatory statewide contract. Answer: Any
amount can be used to create this.
◉ A determination of bidder "responsibility" made by the contracting
officer when choosing a bidder.. Answer: The bidder must have the
financial resources to complete the contracted work.
◉ Disqualified Bidder. Answer: What happens when any of the bid
specifications are used by the bidder.
, ◉ The basis for contract award decisions. Answer: In a solicitation the
evaluation criteria for the award informs prospective bidders.
◉ Limit contact. Answer: During the solicitation process the contracting
officer does this between suppliers and agency personnel
◉ Reciprocity. Answer: Something applied against a bidder whose home
jurisdiction has preference
◉ State Agency Chief Administrative Officer (CAO). Answer: Required
to sign the document ratifying an unauthorized commitment
◉ Nonresponsive. Answer: If a vendor refuses to submit a VPAT they
are considered to be this.
◉ Lowest responsible bidder. Answer: To be awarded construction
contracts, the bidder must be this.
◉ To encourage collaboration. Answer: The primary goal of the Open
Range Program
