FAC-C CERTIFICATION EXAM 2026 |
COMPLETE PRACTICE QUESTIONS &
VERIFIED ANSWERS WITH DETAILED
RATIONALES | FEDERAL ACQUISITION
CERTIFICATION IN CONTRACTING STUDY
GUIDE
FAC-C CERTIFICATION EXAM 2026 | COMPLETE PRACTICE QUESTIONS &
VERIFIED ANSWERS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES | FEDERAL ACQUISITION
CERTIFICATION IN CONTRACTING STUDY GUIDE
OVERVIEW
• This comprehensive study guide contains 200 practice questions designed to
prepare candidates for the FAC-C (Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting)
Level I, II, and III examinations, covering all critical contracting domains including
FAR regulations, procurement planning, source selection, contract administration,
cost/pricing analysis, and ethical requirements.
• Use this material by reviewing each question carefully, attempting to answer
before reviewing the correct answer and rationale, then studying the detailed
explanations to reinforce understanding of federal acquisition regulations and best
practices for exam success.
QUESTION 1
What is the primary purpose of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)?
A) To establish prices for all federal contracts
B) To set uniform policies and procedures for acquiring supplies and services by
executive agencies
C) To limit the number of contractors eligible to bid on federal contracts
D) To eliminate competition in the federal marketplace
,E) To replace agency-specific acquisition policies entirely
✓ CORRECT ANSWER: B) To set uniform policies and procedures for acquiring
supplies and services by executive agencies.
RATIONALE: The FAR is the primary regulation that establishes uniform acquisition
policies and procedures for all executive agencies. It does not set prices, limit
competition, or replace agency policies entirely—rather, it provides the baseline
standards that agencies build upon with their own supplemental regulations. The
FAR's fundamental purpose is to promote competition, ensure fair dealing, and
achieve value for money on behalf of the federal government.
QUESTION 2
Under FAR Part 6, what does "sealed bidding" require?
A) Offers must be submitted in person only
B) A two-step process with technical proposals followed by price proposals
C) Competitive bids to be opened publicly after the bid deadline, with award to the
lowest responsive and responsible bidder
D) Pre-qualification of bidders before solicitation release
E) Negotiation with all bidders before final selection
✓ CORRECT ANSWER: C) Competitive bids to be opened publicly after the bid
deadline, with award to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.
RATIONALE: Sealed bidding, prescribed in FAR Part 6, requires formal advertising,
public opening of sealed bids, and award to the lowest responsive and responsible
bidder. This method does not allow for post-bid negotiations and is used when
specifications are clear and price is the primary award factor. The public opening is
a transparency mechanism ensuring fair treatment of all bidders.
,QUESTION 3
Which FAR part addresses contract administration?
A) FAR Part 4
B) FAR Part 30
C) FAR Part 49
D) FAR Part 37
E) FAR Part 15
✓ CORRECT ANSWER: C) FAR Part 49.
RATIONALE: FAR Part 49 provides comprehensive guidance on contract
administration, including post-award management, inspection and acceptance,
payment, contract interpretation, and remedies for breach. While other FAR parts
address related topics (Part 15 covers negotiation, Part 37 covers services
contracting), Part 49 is specifically designated for contract administration
procedures.
QUESTION 4
What is the significance of a "responsible bidder" determination?
A) It ensures the bidder is the lowest-priced option
B) It confirms the bidder has the capability, capacity, and integrity to perform the
contract
C) It guarantees the bidder will win the competition
D) It is only required for contracts exceeding $1 million
E) It eliminates the need for technical evaluation
✓ CORRECT ANSWER: B) It confirms the bidder has the capability, capacity,
and integrity to perform the contract.
, RATIONALE: A responsible bidder determination, required under sealed bidding,
assesses whether a bidder possesses the ability to perform including adequate
financial resources, technical skills, moral integrity, and satisfactory past
performance. This is distinct from responsiveness, which evaluates whether the bid
itself conforms to solicitation requirements. A non-responsible bidder can be
rejected even if they submit the lowest price.
QUESTION 5
Under FAR Part 15, what is the purpose of requesting "Best and Final Offers"
(BAFOs)?
A) To allow the government to renegotiate prices downward
B) To give offerors a final opportunity to revise proposals based on government
feedback and to establish the government's best estimate of fair and reasonable
pricing
C) To eliminate competitors who cannot improve their proposals
D) To bypass competitive procedures
E) To ensure all offerors submit identical proposals
✓ CORRECT ANSWER: B) To give offerors a final opportunity to revise proposals
based on government feedback and to establish the government's best
estimate of fair and reasonable pricing.
RATIONALE: BAFOs represent the final proposals after negotiations and allow
offerors to make last revisions before source selection. The government may
request BAFOs to refine pricing, technical approach, or other proposal elements.
Requestioning BAFOs is discretionary and must be clearly announced in the
solicitation. They support fair competition and better value for the government.
COMPLETE PRACTICE QUESTIONS &
VERIFIED ANSWERS WITH DETAILED
RATIONALES | FEDERAL ACQUISITION
CERTIFICATION IN CONTRACTING STUDY
GUIDE
FAC-C CERTIFICATION EXAM 2026 | COMPLETE PRACTICE QUESTIONS &
VERIFIED ANSWERS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES | FEDERAL ACQUISITION
CERTIFICATION IN CONTRACTING STUDY GUIDE
OVERVIEW
• This comprehensive study guide contains 200 practice questions designed to
prepare candidates for the FAC-C (Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting)
Level I, II, and III examinations, covering all critical contracting domains including
FAR regulations, procurement planning, source selection, contract administration,
cost/pricing analysis, and ethical requirements.
• Use this material by reviewing each question carefully, attempting to answer
before reviewing the correct answer and rationale, then studying the detailed
explanations to reinforce understanding of federal acquisition regulations and best
practices for exam success.
QUESTION 1
What is the primary purpose of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)?
A) To establish prices for all federal contracts
B) To set uniform policies and procedures for acquiring supplies and services by
executive agencies
C) To limit the number of contractors eligible to bid on federal contracts
D) To eliminate competition in the federal marketplace
,E) To replace agency-specific acquisition policies entirely
✓ CORRECT ANSWER: B) To set uniform policies and procedures for acquiring
supplies and services by executive agencies.
RATIONALE: The FAR is the primary regulation that establishes uniform acquisition
policies and procedures for all executive agencies. It does not set prices, limit
competition, or replace agency policies entirely—rather, it provides the baseline
standards that agencies build upon with their own supplemental regulations. The
FAR's fundamental purpose is to promote competition, ensure fair dealing, and
achieve value for money on behalf of the federal government.
QUESTION 2
Under FAR Part 6, what does "sealed bidding" require?
A) Offers must be submitted in person only
B) A two-step process with technical proposals followed by price proposals
C) Competitive bids to be opened publicly after the bid deadline, with award to the
lowest responsive and responsible bidder
D) Pre-qualification of bidders before solicitation release
E) Negotiation with all bidders before final selection
✓ CORRECT ANSWER: C) Competitive bids to be opened publicly after the bid
deadline, with award to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.
RATIONALE: Sealed bidding, prescribed in FAR Part 6, requires formal advertising,
public opening of sealed bids, and award to the lowest responsive and responsible
bidder. This method does not allow for post-bid negotiations and is used when
specifications are clear and price is the primary award factor. The public opening is
a transparency mechanism ensuring fair treatment of all bidders.
,QUESTION 3
Which FAR part addresses contract administration?
A) FAR Part 4
B) FAR Part 30
C) FAR Part 49
D) FAR Part 37
E) FAR Part 15
✓ CORRECT ANSWER: C) FAR Part 49.
RATIONALE: FAR Part 49 provides comprehensive guidance on contract
administration, including post-award management, inspection and acceptance,
payment, contract interpretation, and remedies for breach. While other FAR parts
address related topics (Part 15 covers negotiation, Part 37 covers services
contracting), Part 49 is specifically designated for contract administration
procedures.
QUESTION 4
What is the significance of a "responsible bidder" determination?
A) It ensures the bidder is the lowest-priced option
B) It confirms the bidder has the capability, capacity, and integrity to perform the
contract
C) It guarantees the bidder will win the competition
D) It is only required for contracts exceeding $1 million
E) It eliminates the need for technical evaluation
✓ CORRECT ANSWER: B) It confirms the bidder has the capability, capacity,
and integrity to perform the contract.
, RATIONALE: A responsible bidder determination, required under sealed bidding,
assesses whether a bidder possesses the ability to perform including adequate
financial resources, technical skills, moral integrity, and satisfactory past
performance. This is distinct from responsiveness, which evaluates whether the bid
itself conforms to solicitation requirements. A non-responsible bidder can be
rejected even if they submit the lowest price.
QUESTION 5
Under FAR Part 15, what is the purpose of requesting "Best and Final Offers"
(BAFOs)?
A) To allow the government to renegotiate prices downward
B) To give offerors a final opportunity to revise proposals based on government
feedback and to establish the government's best estimate of fair and reasonable
pricing
C) To eliminate competitors who cannot improve their proposals
D) To bypass competitive procedures
E) To ensure all offerors submit identical proposals
✓ CORRECT ANSWER: B) To give offerors a final opportunity to revise proposals
based on government feedback and to establish the government's best
estimate of fair and reasonable pricing.
RATIONALE: BAFOs represent the final proposals after negotiations and allow
offerors to make last revisions before source selection. The government may
request BAFOs to refine pricing, technical approach, or other proposal elements.
Requestioning BAFOs is discretionary and must be clearly announced in the
solicitation. They support fair competition and better value for the government.
