Department of War | Contracting Professional Certification
CON 3990V Contracting Certification
Examination 2026/2027 | Verified Questions
Department of War | Contracting Professional Certification | Professional Contracting Candidates
150 Verified Questions | 4 Core Domains | Academic Year 2026/2027
Prepared by
Department of War | Contracting Professional Certification
Contracting Certification Examination (CON 3990V) Actual Exam | Academic Year
2026/2027
CON 3990V Contracting Certification Examination 2026/2027 | Verified Questions
,INTRODUCTION
This document contains 150 original Verified Questions covering the full CON 3990V Contracting
Certification Examination for the academic year 2026/2027. The content addresses every core domain of
the Department of War Contracting Competency Model: Domain 1 – Guiding Principles; Domain 2 – Pre-
Award; Domain 3 – Award; and Domain 4 – Post-Award. Each question is designed to reinforce official
Defense Acquisition University curriculum objectives, the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), the
Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS), and the professional competencies
required for contracting certification readiness.
ACTUAL QUESTIONS
Domain 1: Guiding Principles
Question 1. Only which individual has the authority to enter into, administer, and
terminate contracts on behalf of the Government?
A. Contracting Officer (KO)
B. Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR)
C. Program Manager
D. Requiring activity official
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Only a Contracting Officer acting within the scope of their authority may bind the
Government by entering into, administering, or terminating contracts.
Question 2. The essential elements of a valid contract include:
A. Only a signature and a price
B. Capacity, mutual assent, consideration, and lawful purpose
C. Offer and acceptance only
D. A written document signed by both parties
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The essential elements of a contract are capacity of the parties, mutual assent (offer and
acceptance), consideration, and a lawful purpose.
Question 3. A deviation is defined as:
A. A minor clerical correction
B. An optional best approach
C. A contractor-requested change
D. The use of a policy, procedure, solicitation provision, contract clause, method, or procedure
inconsistent with the FAR
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: A deviation is the use of a procedure or clause that is inconsistent with the FAR; it requires
proper authorization.
Question 4. Which statement best describes the correct application of lawful purpose
under the Federal Acquisition Regulation?
A. It has no relevance to federal contracting
B. It applies only to commercial acquisitions
C. It is a required consideration that guides contracting officer decisions and documentation
D. It is optional for all contract actions
Correct Answer: C
CON 3990V Contracting Certification Examination 2026/2027 | Verified Questions
,Rationale: Under the FAR and DFARS, lawful purpose is a required element that contracting officers
must address to ensure compliant and effective acquisition outcomes.
Question 5. When addressing standards of conduct, the contracting officer must:
A. Follow applicable FAR and DFARS procedures and document the decision rationale
B. Ignore regulatory requirements
C. Defer all decisions to the requiring activity without review
D. Apply only agency-specific policy and ignore the FAR
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Contracting officers are required to apply the FAR and DFARS provisions governing
standards of conduct and to document the basis for their decisions.
Question 6. A key principle related to conflicts of interest is that:
A. Only the requiring activity has authority
B. Only a contracting officer acting within the scope of their authority may bind the Government
C. Any government employee may execute the action
D. Contractors may unilaterally implement the change
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Only a contracting officer acting within the scope of their warrant authority may bind the
Government with respect to conflicts of interest.
Question 7. Which statement best describes the correct application of gratuities
prohibitions under the Federal Acquisition Regulation?
A. It is a required consideration that guides contracting officer decisions and documentation
B. It has no relevance to federal contracting
C. It applies only to commercial acquisitions
D. It is optional for all contract actions
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Under the FAR and DFARS, gratuities prohibitions is a required element that contracting
officers must address to ensure compliant and effective acquisition outcomes.
Question 8. When addressing procurement integrity, the contracting officer must:
A. Ignore regulatory requirements
B. Follow applicable FAR and DFARS procedures and document the decision rationale
C. Defer all decisions to the requiring activity without review
D. Apply only agency-specific policy and ignore the FAR
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Contracting officers are required to apply the FAR and DFARS provisions governing
procurement integrity and to document the basis for their decisions.
Question 9. A key principle related to organizational conflicts of interest is that:
A. Only the requiring activity has authority
B. Any government employee may execute the action
C. Only a contracting officer acting within the scope of their authority may bind the Government
D. Contractors may unilaterally implement the change
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Only a contracting officer acting within the scope of their warrant authority may bind the
Government with respect to organizational conflicts of interest.
CON 3990V Contracting Certification Examination 2026/2027 | Verified Questions
, Question 10. Which statement best describes the correct application of personal conflicts
of interest under the Federal Acquisition Regulation?
A. It has no relevance to federal contracting
B. It applies only to commercial acquisitions
C. It is optional for all contract actions
D. It is a required consideration that guides contracting officer decisions and documentation
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Under the FAR and DFARS, personal conflicts of interest is a required element that
contracting officers must address to ensure compliant and effective acquisition outcomes.
Question 11. When addressing ethics counseling, the contracting officer must:
A. Follow applicable FAR and DFARS procedures and document the decision rationale
B. Ignore regulatory requirements
C. Defer all decisions to the requiring activity without review
D. Apply only agency-specific policy and ignore the FAR
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Contracting officers are required to apply the FAR and DFARS provisions governing ethics
counseling and to document the basis for their decisions.
Question 12. A key principle related to team dynamics in acquisition is that:
A. Only the requiring activity has authority
B. Any government employee may execute the action
C. Contractors may unilaterally implement the change
D. Only a contracting officer acting within the scope of their authority may bind the Government
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Only a contracting officer acting within the scope of their warrant authority may bind the
Government with respect to team dynamics in acquisition.
Question 13. Which statement best describes the correct application of communication
with industry under the Federal Acquisition Regulation?
A. It has no relevance to federal contracting
B. It applies only to commercial acquisitions
C. It is a required consideration that guides contracting officer decisions and documentation
D. It is optional for all contract actions
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Under the FAR and DFARS, communication with industry is a required element that
contracting officers must address to ensure compliant and effective acquisition outcomes.
Question 14. When addressing documentation requirements, the contracting officer must:
A. Ignore regulatory requirements
B. Follow applicable FAR and DFARS procedures and document the decision rationale
C. Defer all decisions to the requiring activity without review
D. Apply only agency-specific policy and ignore the FAR
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Contracting officers are required to apply the FAR and DFARS provisions governing
documentation requirements and to document the basis for their decisions.
Question 15. A key principle related to situational assessment is that:
A. Only the requiring activity has authority
B. Any government employee may execute the action
CON 3990V Contracting Certification Examination 2026/2027 | Verified Questions
CON 3990V Contracting Certification
Examination 2026/2027 | Verified Questions
Department of War | Contracting Professional Certification | Professional Contracting Candidates
150 Verified Questions | 4 Core Domains | Academic Year 2026/2027
Prepared by
Department of War | Contracting Professional Certification
Contracting Certification Examination (CON 3990V) Actual Exam | Academic Year
2026/2027
CON 3990V Contracting Certification Examination 2026/2027 | Verified Questions
,INTRODUCTION
This document contains 150 original Verified Questions covering the full CON 3990V Contracting
Certification Examination for the academic year 2026/2027. The content addresses every core domain of
the Department of War Contracting Competency Model: Domain 1 – Guiding Principles; Domain 2 – Pre-
Award; Domain 3 – Award; and Domain 4 – Post-Award. Each question is designed to reinforce official
Defense Acquisition University curriculum objectives, the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), the
Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS), and the professional competencies
required for contracting certification readiness.
ACTUAL QUESTIONS
Domain 1: Guiding Principles
Question 1. Only which individual has the authority to enter into, administer, and
terminate contracts on behalf of the Government?
A. Contracting Officer (KO)
B. Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR)
C. Program Manager
D. Requiring activity official
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Only a Contracting Officer acting within the scope of their authority may bind the
Government by entering into, administering, or terminating contracts.
Question 2. The essential elements of a valid contract include:
A. Only a signature and a price
B. Capacity, mutual assent, consideration, and lawful purpose
C. Offer and acceptance only
D. A written document signed by both parties
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The essential elements of a contract are capacity of the parties, mutual assent (offer and
acceptance), consideration, and a lawful purpose.
Question 3. A deviation is defined as:
A. A minor clerical correction
B. An optional best approach
C. A contractor-requested change
D. The use of a policy, procedure, solicitation provision, contract clause, method, or procedure
inconsistent with the FAR
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: A deviation is the use of a procedure or clause that is inconsistent with the FAR; it requires
proper authorization.
Question 4. Which statement best describes the correct application of lawful purpose
under the Federal Acquisition Regulation?
A. It has no relevance to federal contracting
B. It applies only to commercial acquisitions
C. It is a required consideration that guides contracting officer decisions and documentation
D. It is optional for all contract actions
Correct Answer: C
CON 3990V Contracting Certification Examination 2026/2027 | Verified Questions
,Rationale: Under the FAR and DFARS, lawful purpose is a required element that contracting officers
must address to ensure compliant and effective acquisition outcomes.
Question 5. When addressing standards of conduct, the contracting officer must:
A. Follow applicable FAR and DFARS procedures and document the decision rationale
B. Ignore regulatory requirements
C. Defer all decisions to the requiring activity without review
D. Apply only agency-specific policy and ignore the FAR
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Contracting officers are required to apply the FAR and DFARS provisions governing
standards of conduct and to document the basis for their decisions.
Question 6. A key principle related to conflicts of interest is that:
A. Only the requiring activity has authority
B. Only a contracting officer acting within the scope of their authority may bind the Government
C. Any government employee may execute the action
D. Contractors may unilaterally implement the change
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Only a contracting officer acting within the scope of their warrant authority may bind the
Government with respect to conflicts of interest.
Question 7. Which statement best describes the correct application of gratuities
prohibitions under the Federal Acquisition Regulation?
A. It is a required consideration that guides contracting officer decisions and documentation
B. It has no relevance to federal contracting
C. It applies only to commercial acquisitions
D. It is optional for all contract actions
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Under the FAR and DFARS, gratuities prohibitions is a required element that contracting
officers must address to ensure compliant and effective acquisition outcomes.
Question 8. When addressing procurement integrity, the contracting officer must:
A. Ignore regulatory requirements
B. Follow applicable FAR and DFARS procedures and document the decision rationale
C. Defer all decisions to the requiring activity without review
D. Apply only agency-specific policy and ignore the FAR
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Contracting officers are required to apply the FAR and DFARS provisions governing
procurement integrity and to document the basis for their decisions.
Question 9. A key principle related to organizational conflicts of interest is that:
A. Only the requiring activity has authority
B. Any government employee may execute the action
C. Only a contracting officer acting within the scope of their authority may bind the Government
D. Contractors may unilaterally implement the change
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Only a contracting officer acting within the scope of their warrant authority may bind the
Government with respect to organizational conflicts of interest.
CON 3990V Contracting Certification Examination 2026/2027 | Verified Questions
, Question 10. Which statement best describes the correct application of personal conflicts
of interest under the Federal Acquisition Regulation?
A. It has no relevance to federal contracting
B. It applies only to commercial acquisitions
C. It is optional for all contract actions
D. It is a required consideration that guides contracting officer decisions and documentation
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Under the FAR and DFARS, personal conflicts of interest is a required element that
contracting officers must address to ensure compliant and effective acquisition outcomes.
Question 11. When addressing ethics counseling, the contracting officer must:
A. Follow applicable FAR and DFARS procedures and document the decision rationale
B. Ignore regulatory requirements
C. Defer all decisions to the requiring activity without review
D. Apply only agency-specific policy and ignore the FAR
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Contracting officers are required to apply the FAR and DFARS provisions governing ethics
counseling and to document the basis for their decisions.
Question 12. A key principle related to team dynamics in acquisition is that:
A. Only the requiring activity has authority
B. Any government employee may execute the action
C. Contractors may unilaterally implement the change
D. Only a contracting officer acting within the scope of their authority may bind the Government
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Only a contracting officer acting within the scope of their warrant authority may bind the
Government with respect to team dynamics in acquisition.
Question 13. Which statement best describes the correct application of communication
with industry under the Federal Acquisition Regulation?
A. It has no relevance to federal contracting
B. It applies only to commercial acquisitions
C. It is a required consideration that guides contracting officer decisions and documentation
D. It is optional for all contract actions
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Under the FAR and DFARS, communication with industry is a required element that
contracting officers must address to ensure compliant and effective acquisition outcomes.
Question 14. When addressing documentation requirements, the contracting officer must:
A. Ignore regulatory requirements
B. Follow applicable FAR and DFARS procedures and document the decision rationale
C. Defer all decisions to the requiring activity without review
D. Apply only agency-specific policy and ignore the FAR
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Contracting officers are required to apply the FAR and DFARS provisions governing
documentation requirements and to document the basis for their decisions.
Question 15. A key principle related to situational assessment is that:
A. Only the requiring activity has authority
B. Any government employee may execute the action
CON 3990V Contracting Certification Examination 2026/2027 | Verified Questions
