BSA 117 PRACTICE EXAM 2026–2027
|COMPREHENSIVE EXAM QUESTIONS, VERIFIED
ANSWERS & DETAILED RATIONALES | COMPLETE
FEDERAL ACQUISITION STUDY GUIDE MOST
RECENT
1. The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) is codified in which title of the
Code of Federal Regulations?
a) Title 41
b) Title 48
c) Title 31
d) Title 10
b) Title 48
Rationale: Title 48 of the CFR contains the Federal Acquisition Regulations
System, including the FAR and agency supplements.
2. Under the FAR, a "contracting officer" is defined as:
a) Any government employee
b) A person with the authority to enter into, administer, or terminate
contracts
c) The head of the contracting activity
d) The agency's legal counsel
b) A person with the authority to enter into, administer, or terminate
contracts
Rationale: Only a warranted contracting officer may bind the government in
contract matters; their authority is defined in FAR 1.602.
3. Which statute mandates full and open competition in federal procurement?
a) Truth in Negotiations Act
b) Competition in Contracting Act
, c) Anti-Deficiency Act
d) Miller Act
b) Competition in Contracting Act
Rationale: CICA, enacted in 1984, requires that all procurement be
conducted through full and open competition unless a specific exception
applies.
4. A responsive bid in sealed bidding is one that:
a) Offers the lowest price
b) Conforms to all material requirements of the invitation for bids
c) Is submitted by a small business
d) Includes a detailed cost breakdown
b) Conforms to all material requirements of the invitation for bids
Rationale: Responsiveness means the bid complies with the solicitation's
essential terms, enabling fair evaluation of all bids.
5. The doctrine of "contra proferentem" in government contract interpretation
means:
a) Ambiguities are resolved in favor of the drafter
b) Ambiguities are construed against the drafter, typically the government
c) The contract is interpreted literally without outside evidence
d) Both parties share the risk of ambiguity
b) Ambiguities are construed against the drafter, typically the government
Rationale: Since the government unilaterally drafts the contract, any
ambiguous language is resolved against it if the contractor's interpretation
is reasonable.
6. A contractor's claim under the Contract Disputes Act (CDA) must be
submitted to the contracting officer within:
a) 1 year of accrual
b) 3 years of accrual
c) 6 years of accrual
d) 10 years of accrual
c) 6 years of accrual
, Rationale: The CDA statute of limitations requires claims to be filed within
six years after the claim accrues.
7. A "cardinal change" to a government contract occurs when:
a) A modification is agreed to by both parties
b) The government directs a change that is within the scope of the changes
clause
c) The government directs a change that fundamentally alters the nature of
the contract
d) The contractor makes a minor adjustment without notice
c) The government directs a change that fundamentally alters the nature
of the contract
Rationale: A cardinal change is a material breach because it exceeds the
scope of the changes clause, and the contractor may refuse to perform
without a new procurement.
8. The Christian Doctrine provides that:
a) A contractor must be a Christian to receive a government contract
b) Certain mandatory contract clauses are read into the contract by
operation of law even if omitted
c) The government may unilaterally terminate for convenience
d) Protest deadlines are jurisdictional
b) Certain mandatory contract clauses are read into the contract by
operation of law even if omitted
Rationale: Under G.L. Christian & Associates v. United States, clauses that
express a significant public policy are incorporated into contracts as a
matter of law.
9. Which FAR part addresses organizational conflicts of interest (OCI)?
a) FAR Part 3
b) FAR Part 9.5
c) FAR Part 15
d) FAR Part 19
b) FAR Part 9.5
, Rationale: FAR Subpart 9.5 prescribes policies and procedures to identify,
evaluate, and resolve organizational conflicts of interest.
10.A "suspension" of a contractor is:
a) A permanent exclusion from government contracting
b) A temporary exclusion pending investigation or legal proceedings
c) A disciplinary action against a government employee
d) A termination for default
b) A temporary exclusion pending investigation or legal proceedings
Rationale: Suspension is a temporary measure to protect the government
while an investigation or litigation is ongoing, per FAR 9.407.
11.Under the Anti-Kickback Act, a kickback includes:
a) A prompt payment discount
b) Any money, fee, or thing of value provided to influence a subcontract
award
c) A price reduction for defective goods
d) An equitable adjustment
b) Any money, fee, or thing of value provided to influence a subcontract
award
Rationale: The Act prohibits kickbacks in connection with government
contracts, including giving or receiving such inducements.
12.The changes clause in a fixed-price contract allows the government to:
a) Terminate the contract at will
b) Unilaterally direct changes within the general scope of the contract, with
equitable adjustment
c) Change the contract price without the contractor's agreement
d) Assign the contract to another agency
b) Unilaterally direct changes within the general scope of the contract,
with equitable adjustment
Rationale: The standard changes clause gives the government the unilateral
right to modify the work, but the contractor is entitled to a fair adjustment
in price or schedule.
|COMPREHENSIVE EXAM QUESTIONS, VERIFIED
ANSWERS & DETAILED RATIONALES | COMPLETE
FEDERAL ACQUISITION STUDY GUIDE MOST
RECENT
1. The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) is codified in which title of the
Code of Federal Regulations?
a) Title 41
b) Title 48
c) Title 31
d) Title 10
b) Title 48
Rationale: Title 48 of the CFR contains the Federal Acquisition Regulations
System, including the FAR and agency supplements.
2. Under the FAR, a "contracting officer" is defined as:
a) Any government employee
b) A person with the authority to enter into, administer, or terminate
contracts
c) The head of the contracting activity
d) The agency's legal counsel
b) A person with the authority to enter into, administer, or terminate
contracts
Rationale: Only a warranted contracting officer may bind the government in
contract matters; their authority is defined in FAR 1.602.
3. Which statute mandates full and open competition in federal procurement?
a) Truth in Negotiations Act
b) Competition in Contracting Act
, c) Anti-Deficiency Act
d) Miller Act
b) Competition in Contracting Act
Rationale: CICA, enacted in 1984, requires that all procurement be
conducted through full and open competition unless a specific exception
applies.
4. A responsive bid in sealed bidding is one that:
a) Offers the lowest price
b) Conforms to all material requirements of the invitation for bids
c) Is submitted by a small business
d) Includes a detailed cost breakdown
b) Conforms to all material requirements of the invitation for bids
Rationale: Responsiveness means the bid complies with the solicitation's
essential terms, enabling fair evaluation of all bids.
5. The doctrine of "contra proferentem" in government contract interpretation
means:
a) Ambiguities are resolved in favor of the drafter
b) Ambiguities are construed against the drafter, typically the government
c) The contract is interpreted literally without outside evidence
d) Both parties share the risk of ambiguity
b) Ambiguities are construed against the drafter, typically the government
Rationale: Since the government unilaterally drafts the contract, any
ambiguous language is resolved against it if the contractor's interpretation
is reasonable.
6. A contractor's claim under the Contract Disputes Act (CDA) must be
submitted to the contracting officer within:
a) 1 year of accrual
b) 3 years of accrual
c) 6 years of accrual
d) 10 years of accrual
c) 6 years of accrual
, Rationale: The CDA statute of limitations requires claims to be filed within
six years after the claim accrues.
7. A "cardinal change" to a government contract occurs when:
a) A modification is agreed to by both parties
b) The government directs a change that is within the scope of the changes
clause
c) The government directs a change that fundamentally alters the nature of
the contract
d) The contractor makes a minor adjustment without notice
c) The government directs a change that fundamentally alters the nature
of the contract
Rationale: A cardinal change is a material breach because it exceeds the
scope of the changes clause, and the contractor may refuse to perform
without a new procurement.
8. The Christian Doctrine provides that:
a) A contractor must be a Christian to receive a government contract
b) Certain mandatory contract clauses are read into the contract by
operation of law even if omitted
c) The government may unilaterally terminate for convenience
d) Protest deadlines are jurisdictional
b) Certain mandatory contract clauses are read into the contract by
operation of law even if omitted
Rationale: Under G.L. Christian & Associates v. United States, clauses that
express a significant public policy are incorporated into contracts as a
matter of law.
9. Which FAR part addresses organizational conflicts of interest (OCI)?
a) FAR Part 3
b) FAR Part 9.5
c) FAR Part 15
d) FAR Part 19
b) FAR Part 9.5
, Rationale: FAR Subpart 9.5 prescribes policies and procedures to identify,
evaluate, and resolve organizational conflicts of interest.
10.A "suspension" of a contractor is:
a) A permanent exclusion from government contracting
b) A temporary exclusion pending investigation or legal proceedings
c) A disciplinary action against a government employee
d) A termination for default
b) A temporary exclusion pending investigation or legal proceedings
Rationale: Suspension is a temporary measure to protect the government
while an investigation or litigation is ongoing, per FAR 9.407.
11.Under the Anti-Kickback Act, a kickback includes:
a) A prompt payment discount
b) Any money, fee, or thing of value provided to influence a subcontract
award
c) A price reduction for defective goods
d) An equitable adjustment
b) Any money, fee, or thing of value provided to influence a subcontract
award
Rationale: The Act prohibits kickbacks in connection with government
contracts, including giving or receiving such inducements.
12.The changes clause in a fixed-price contract allows the government to:
a) Terminate the contract at will
b) Unilaterally direct changes within the general scope of the contract, with
equitable adjustment
c) Change the contract price without the contractor's agreement
d) Assign the contract to another agency
b) Unilaterally direct changes within the general scope of the contract,
with equitable adjustment
Rationale: The standard changes clause gives the government the unilateral
right to modify the work, but the contractor is entitled to a fair adjustment
in price or schedule.
