VA Alternative Energy System
Contracting Practice Exam Questions
And Answers With Verified Study
Solutions Rated A+
1. A contractor installing a solar PV system for a VA medical center must comply with
which structural load requirement?
A) Only dead load of panels
B) Dead + live + snow + wind loads per VA Master Specifications
C) Just the weight of the inverter
D) Manufacturer’s minimum load only
Answer: B
Explanation: VA facilities require adherence to VA Master Specifications, which mandate
structural analysis for combined dead, live, snow, and wind loads—not just panel weight.
Inverters are part of the electrical load, not structural. Manufacturer minimums are
insufficient.
2. Under the VA Alternative Energy Contracting process, what is the first step in a
Design-Build project?
A) Issue Notice to Proceed
B) Submit preliminary design for VA approval
C) Conduct site feasibility study
D) Award contract to lowest bidder
,Answer: C
Explanation: Site feasibility study (resource assessment, environmental, grid integration)
must precede design submission. NTP comes after contract award; lowest bidder is not
always selected due to best-value criteria.
3. Which geothermal heat pump configuration is preferred by VA for large-scale
retrofits?
A) Open-loop well system
B) Horizontal closed-loop
C) Vertical closed-loop
D) Pond loop
Answer: C
Explanation: Vertical closed-loop minimizes land use and avoids groundwater
contamination risks—critical for VA campuses with limited space. Open-loop risks
fouling; horizontal requires large land area.
4. A VA solar PV contract requires prevailing wage rates under which federal act?
A) Taft-Hartley Act
B) Davis-Bacon Act
C) Wagner Act
D) Occupational Safety and Health Act
Answer: B
Explanation: Davis-Bacon Act applies to federal construction contracts >$2,000. Taft-
Hartley (labor relations), Wagner (collective bargaining), OSHA (safety) are not wage
acts.
,5. When designing a wind turbine for a VA rural health clinic, the minimum average
wind speed at hub height should be:
A) 5 mph
B) 8 mph
C) 12 mph
D) 20 mph
Answer: C
Explanation: 12 mph (5.4 m/s) is generally the economic cutoff for small wind. 5–8 mph
are too low for viable generation; 20 mph is excellent but rare.
6. In VA contracting, a “change order” for an alternative energy system must be
approved by whom if over $100,000?
A) Project engineer
B) Contracting Officer (CO)
C) Site safety officer
D) Prime contractor’s PM
Answer: B
Explanation: CO has authority for modifications >$100k per FAR/VAAR. Engineer and PM
recommend; safety officer irrelevant.
7. The maximum allowable voltage drop for a VA-installed solar PV feeder circuit per
NEC is:
A) 1%
, B) 2%
C) 3%
D) 5%
Answer: C
Explanation: NEC 690.8(A)(3) recommends 3% for feeders, 5% total including branches.
VA follows NEC strictly.
8. A biomass boiler system installed at a VA hospital must meet which EPA emissions
standard?
A) NSPS for boilers (40 CFR 60 Subpart Dc)
B) Clean Water Act
C) RCRA Subtitle C
D) NESHAP for asbestos
Answer: A
Explanation: New Source Performance Standards for biomass boilers apply. Clean Water
Act (water), RCRA (waste), asbestos NESHAP (air toxics) not primary.
9. The VA’s “Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) 2007” requires federal
buildings to reduce fossil fuel use by what year and percentage?
A) 2030 – 50%
B) 2025 – 30%
C) 2030 – 100%
D) 2040 – 80%
Contracting Practice Exam Questions
And Answers With Verified Study
Solutions Rated A+
1. A contractor installing a solar PV system for a VA medical center must comply with
which structural load requirement?
A) Only dead load of panels
B) Dead + live + snow + wind loads per VA Master Specifications
C) Just the weight of the inverter
D) Manufacturer’s minimum load only
Answer: B
Explanation: VA facilities require adherence to VA Master Specifications, which mandate
structural analysis for combined dead, live, snow, and wind loads—not just panel weight.
Inverters are part of the electrical load, not structural. Manufacturer minimums are
insufficient.
2. Under the VA Alternative Energy Contracting process, what is the first step in a
Design-Build project?
A) Issue Notice to Proceed
B) Submit preliminary design for VA approval
C) Conduct site feasibility study
D) Award contract to lowest bidder
,Answer: C
Explanation: Site feasibility study (resource assessment, environmental, grid integration)
must precede design submission. NTP comes after contract award; lowest bidder is not
always selected due to best-value criteria.
3. Which geothermal heat pump configuration is preferred by VA for large-scale
retrofits?
A) Open-loop well system
B) Horizontal closed-loop
C) Vertical closed-loop
D) Pond loop
Answer: C
Explanation: Vertical closed-loop minimizes land use and avoids groundwater
contamination risks—critical for VA campuses with limited space. Open-loop risks
fouling; horizontal requires large land area.
4. A VA solar PV contract requires prevailing wage rates under which federal act?
A) Taft-Hartley Act
B) Davis-Bacon Act
C) Wagner Act
D) Occupational Safety and Health Act
Answer: B
Explanation: Davis-Bacon Act applies to federal construction contracts >$2,000. Taft-
Hartley (labor relations), Wagner (collective bargaining), OSHA (safety) are not wage
acts.
,5. When designing a wind turbine for a VA rural health clinic, the minimum average
wind speed at hub height should be:
A) 5 mph
B) 8 mph
C) 12 mph
D) 20 mph
Answer: C
Explanation: 12 mph (5.4 m/s) is generally the economic cutoff for small wind. 5–8 mph
are too low for viable generation; 20 mph is excellent but rare.
6. In VA contracting, a “change order” for an alternative energy system must be
approved by whom if over $100,000?
A) Project engineer
B) Contracting Officer (CO)
C) Site safety officer
D) Prime contractor’s PM
Answer: B
Explanation: CO has authority for modifications >$100k per FAR/VAAR. Engineer and PM
recommend; safety officer irrelevant.
7. The maximum allowable voltage drop for a VA-installed solar PV feeder circuit per
NEC is:
A) 1%
, B) 2%
C) 3%
D) 5%
Answer: C
Explanation: NEC 690.8(A)(3) recommends 3% for feeders, 5% total including branches.
VA follows NEC strictly.
8. A biomass boiler system installed at a VA hospital must meet which EPA emissions
standard?
A) NSPS for boilers (40 CFR 60 Subpart Dc)
B) Clean Water Act
C) RCRA Subtitle C
D) NESHAP for asbestos
Answer: A
Explanation: New Source Performance Standards for biomass boilers apply. Clean Water
Act (water), RCRA (waste), asbestos NESHAP (air toxics) not primary.
9. The VA’s “Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) 2007” requires federal
buildings to reduce fossil fuel use by what year and percentage?
A) 2030 – 50%
B) 2025 – 30%
C) 2030 – 100%
D) 2040 – 80%
