Contracting Officer warrant board
questions
1279 REPORTS-DFARS 205.303 - ANS-The threshold for DoD awards is $6.Five million.
Report all contractual movements, which include modifications, that have a face fee, except for
unexercised options, of extra than $6.Five million.
- For undefinitized contractual actions, record the now not-to-exceed (NTE) quantity. Later, if the
definitized quantity exceeds the NTE quantity via extra than $6.Five million, file best the amount
exceeding the NTE.
- For indefinite transport, time and cloth, hard work hour, and comparable contracts, report the
preliminary award if the anticipated face price, apart from unexercised alternatives, is greater
than $6.5 million. Do no longer document orders as much as the expected fee, but after the
expected cost is reached, file subsequent modifications and orders that have a face value of
more than $6.Five million.
- Do no longer report the identical work twice.
7 Steps to PBSA - ANS-7 Steps to PBSA
1) Form a crew
2) discover the hassle
three) observe the marketplace
four) expand PWS
5) determine the way to measure
6) pick out the KTR
7) Manage the Performance
A firm-fixed-charge contract: - ANS-• presents for a price that isn't problem to any adjustment on
the idea of the contractor's price enjoy in performing the contract.
• locations upon the contractor most risk and full obligation for all charges and ensuing earnings
or loss.
• provides maximum incentive for the contractor to manipulate prices and perform effectively
• imposes a minimum administrative burden upon the contracting events.
Application: FFP is appropriate for:
acquiring commercial objects (FFP or FFP with EPA required for commercial objects (FAR
16.201))
other substances or services on the basis of fairly definite practical or precise specifications
whilst CO can establish fair and reasonable charges on the outset, inclusive of while-
a. There's good enough charge competition
b. There are reasonable rate comparisons with earlier purchases of the same or similar
materials or services made on a aggressive basis or supported by way of legitimate price or
pricing data
,c. Available price or pricing facts permits sensible estimates of the likely prices of performance;
or
d. Performance uncertainties may be diagnosed and reasonable estimates in their price impact
can be made, and the contractor is willing to accept a FFP representing assumption of the
dangers concerned
A. Under what occasions is ratification of an unauthorized dedication permitted?
B. In wellknown, what are the regular tactics for managing ratification moves?
C. Who are the approval government for ratifications? - ANS-A. If the settlement award might
had been right if achieved via a warranted PCO, the rate can be determined to be truthful and
reasonable, and there have to were enough of the right kind of funding available to pay for the
item both on the time of the dedication and at the time of the ratification.
B. An research is needed to be finished inside 30 days of discovery of the unauthorized
dedication explaining how and why it took place, how future occurrences might be averted, and
describing any corrective actions taken towards accountable individuals. Legal evaluate is
likewise required.
C. The ratification approving respectable for all unauthorized commitments valued at or above
$1M is the SPE. The ratification approving reliable for all Non-DISA unauthorized commitments
(no matter amount) and DISA unauthorized commitments valued beneath $1M is the HCA.
(DARS 1.602-3(b)(2))
After a good deal deliberation and evaluation, you because the CO have decided that an object
proposed as industrial does now not satisfy the definition in FAR 2.A hundred and one(b). You
ask the contractor to publish certifiable price or pricing information, however, the contractor
refuses your request and still insists that its product is business. What steps could you now
take? - ANS-Explain your position once more to the contractor, emphasizing which you are the
CO; you've got the very last willpower concerning commerciality; and failure of the contractor to
publish the facts is a extreme state of affairs. 2) Elevate the deadlock to control and solicit their
assist through the leverage they have got with their contractor counterparts. Three) Examine the
opportunity of some other source (not likely at this point). Four) Ask the contractor to put into
writing that the corporation refuses to supply certifiable fee or pricing statistics and the
organisation will withdraw its thought if the CO persists in figuring out that the item isn't
business. Five) If the contractor does what become asked in bullet (four) above, the next step
could be a TINA waiver request for the reason that authorities can not otherwise obtain the item.
6) The TINA waiver package might also need to deal with how the price might be determined
fair and affordable with out the submission of licensed value or pricing information AND that
there are demonstrated blessings to granting the waiver. 7) Finally, expand a approach for
obtaining this item inside the future.
Are there Synopsis Exceptions? - ANS-Found in FAR five.202
1. National safety could be compromised
2. Compelling urgency could reason the Government to be significantly injured if the
organization complied with the time durations particular
three. A overseas authorities is reimbursing the organisation for the fee of the acquisition; or an
global agreement or treaty between the U.S. And a overseas authorities/international company
has the effect of requiring that the acquisition will be from unique sources.
,4. The contract motion is expressly authorized or required by using statute
5. The settlement motion is for application services (apart from telecommunications) and
handiest one source is to be had
6. The settlement motion is an order beneath an indefinite shipping agreement
7. The movement results from acceptance of a suggestion under the Small Business Innovation
Development Act of 1982
eight. The proposed settlement action consequences from the attractiveness of an unsolicited
research proposal that demonstrates a completely unique and innovative concept and any note
might improperly expose the originality of the proposed research or proprietary records.
Nine. The proposed agreement action is made for perishable elements and advanced notice
isn't always reasonable
10. The proposed agreement movement is made underneath conditions defined in 6.302-3, or
6.302-5 in regards to logo name commercial items for legal resale, or 6.302-7, and advance
notice isn't suitable or affordable
eleven. The proposed settlement movement is made beneath the phrases of an current
settlement that was formerly synopsized
12. The proposed agreement action may be made and accomplished out of doors the U.S. And
most effective neighborhood assets could be solicited.
13. The proposed agreement motion will no longer exceed the simplified acquisition threshold,
could be made thru a way that gives access to the attention through GPE, and permits the
general public to respond to the soli
As the Contracting Officer on a source selection you lately despatched out the notice to
unsuccessful offerors and feature received numerous requests for debriefings. Some of the
requests are for pre-award debriefs and a few are for publish award debriefs. What are the
matters you can/won't tell the offerors within the debriefings? - ANS-Authority: FAR 15.505 /
FAR 15.506
At a minimum, Pre-Award debriefings shall consist of --
(1) The company's assessment of significant elements inside the offeror's proposal;
(2) A precis of the cause for putting off the offeror from the opposition; and
(three) Reasonable responses to relevant questions about whether supply choice approaches
contained within the solicitation, applicable regulations, and other applicable authorities have
been followed inside the manner of casting off the offeror from the competition.
Preaward debriefings shall not expose --
(1) The range of offerors;
(2) The identification of different offerors;
(three) The content material of other offerors proposals;
(4) The rating of other offerors;
(five) The evaluation of different offerors; or
(6) Any of the data prohibited in 15.506(e).
For a Post-Award
(1) The Government's assessment of the widespread weaknesses or deficiencies inside the
offeror's thought, if applicable;
, (2) The overall evaluated price or price (together with unit expenses), and technical rating, if
relevant, of the successful offeror and the debriefed offeror, and beyond performance records at
the debriefed offeror;
(three) The usual ranking of all offerors, when any rating became advanced by the corporation
throughout the source selection;
(4) A precis of the rationale for award;
(five) For acquisitions of commercial items, the make and version of the item to be delivered by
way of the a hit offeror; and
(6) Reasonable responses to relevant questions on whether or not supply selection strategies
contained within the solicitation, relevant rules, and other relevant authorities were observed.
The debriefing shall not include factor-through-point comparisons of the debriefed offeror's
concept with the ones of other offerors. Moreover, the debriefing shall not display any records
prohibited from disclosure by way of 24.202 or exempt from relea
As the Contracting Officer, you had been involved in a supply selection for the overhaul and
protection (which includes portray) of the C-one hundred thirty fleet. The effort become
competed many of the incumbent ALC and numerous commercial restore centers. A contractor
won the opposition and also you issued a Requirements Contract, with FAR clause fifty
two.216-21, for a performance length of one year. The agreement also consists of a 3-12
months choice. Prior to award, a Pre-Award Survey changed into finished through DCMA.
DCMA confirmed that the contractor had the capability, quality manipulate, and good enough
ability. However, after the primary few gadgets had been painted, in spite of passing exceptional
inspections, your Program Manager turned into unhappy with the satisfactory of the paint jobs.
He tells you that the contractor's paint task would not compare to the nice work of the ALC.
Subsequently, your Program Manager directs the next few C-130s be brought to the ALC for
portray, wh - ANS-Since it's far very early within the overall performance duration, the
contractual limits have not possibly been met. No other situation justifies exception, consistent
with the Requirements clause (FAR fifty two.216-21) within the agreement. Therefore, The
Program Manager will violate the conditions of the Requirements Clause via redirecting any
work faraway from the contractor. The a hit bidder's idea changed into based totally on receiving
all predicted work; in the end, the Program Manager risks criminal movement (a declare) from
the successful contractor.
One factor you may deliver up is that the contract time period is most effective for 365 days. If
the PM is unhappy with the "exceptional" of the contractor's overall performance, despite the
fact that the paintings complies with the contract, he have to review the contractual necessities
and decide if the best should be upgraded on a later procurement. Perhaps, a higher first-class
requirement will result in much less frequent paint jobs, thereby saving money. On the opposite
hand, possibly the better nice isn't vital and not really worth a premium to in reality make the
aircraft look higher. In any event, the PM is obligated to ship all paintings to the a hit contractor
for 365 days, up to the envisioned amount, until a few authorized exception exists, like an
urgency that the contractor in not able to perform.
By the way, the Program Manager might be tempted to use the alternatives as award-term
incentives and persuade the contractor to growth the "quality" of the work above the
questions
1279 REPORTS-DFARS 205.303 - ANS-The threshold for DoD awards is $6.Five million.
Report all contractual movements, which include modifications, that have a face fee, except for
unexercised options, of extra than $6.Five million.
- For undefinitized contractual actions, record the now not-to-exceed (NTE) quantity. Later, if the
definitized quantity exceeds the NTE quantity via extra than $6.Five million, file best the amount
exceeding the NTE.
- For indefinite transport, time and cloth, hard work hour, and comparable contracts, report the
preliminary award if the anticipated face price, apart from unexercised alternatives, is greater
than $6.5 million. Do no longer document orders as much as the expected fee, but after the
expected cost is reached, file subsequent modifications and orders that have a face value of
more than $6.Five million.
- Do no longer report the identical work twice.
7 Steps to PBSA - ANS-7 Steps to PBSA
1) Form a crew
2) discover the hassle
three) observe the marketplace
four) expand PWS
5) determine the way to measure
6) pick out the KTR
7) Manage the Performance
A firm-fixed-charge contract: - ANS-• presents for a price that isn't problem to any adjustment on
the idea of the contractor's price enjoy in performing the contract.
• locations upon the contractor most risk and full obligation for all charges and ensuing earnings
or loss.
• provides maximum incentive for the contractor to manipulate prices and perform effectively
• imposes a minimum administrative burden upon the contracting events.
Application: FFP is appropriate for:
acquiring commercial objects (FFP or FFP with EPA required for commercial objects (FAR
16.201))
other substances or services on the basis of fairly definite practical or precise specifications
whilst CO can establish fair and reasonable charges on the outset, inclusive of while-
a. There's good enough charge competition
b. There are reasonable rate comparisons with earlier purchases of the same or similar
materials or services made on a aggressive basis or supported by way of legitimate price or
pricing data
,c. Available price or pricing facts permits sensible estimates of the likely prices of performance;
or
d. Performance uncertainties may be diagnosed and reasonable estimates in their price impact
can be made, and the contractor is willing to accept a FFP representing assumption of the
dangers concerned
A. Under what occasions is ratification of an unauthorized dedication permitted?
B. In wellknown, what are the regular tactics for managing ratification moves?
C. Who are the approval government for ratifications? - ANS-A. If the settlement award might
had been right if achieved via a warranted PCO, the rate can be determined to be truthful and
reasonable, and there have to were enough of the right kind of funding available to pay for the
item both on the time of the dedication and at the time of the ratification.
B. An research is needed to be finished inside 30 days of discovery of the unauthorized
dedication explaining how and why it took place, how future occurrences might be averted, and
describing any corrective actions taken towards accountable individuals. Legal evaluate is
likewise required.
C. The ratification approving respectable for all unauthorized commitments valued at or above
$1M is the SPE. The ratification approving reliable for all Non-DISA unauthorized commitments
(no matter amount) and DISA unauthorized commitments valued beneath $1M is the HCA.
(DARS 1.602-3(b)(2))
After a good deal deliberation and evaluation, you because the CO have decided that an object
proposed as industrial does now not satisfy the definition in FAR 2.A hundred and one(b). You
ask the contractor to publish certifiable price or pricing information, however, the contractor
refuses your request and still insists that its product is business. What steps could you now
take? - ANS-Explain your position once more to the contractor, emphasizing which you are the
CO; you've got the very last willpower concerning commerciality; and failure of the contractor to
publish the facts is a extreme state of affairs. 2) Elevate the deadlock to control and solicit their
assist through the leverage they have got with their contractor counterparts. Three) Examine the
opportunity of some other source (not likely at this point). Four) Ask the contractor to put into
writing that the corporation refuses to supply certifiable fee or pricing statistics and the
organisation will withdraw its thought if the CO persists in figuring out that the item isn't
business. Five) If the contractor does what become asked in bullet (four) above, the next step
could be a TINA waiver request for the reason that authorities can not otherwise obtain the item.
6) The TINA waiver package might also need to deal with how the price might be determined
fair and affordable with out the submission of licensed value or pricing information AND that
there are demonstrated blessings to granting the waiver. 7) Finally, expand a approach for
obtaining this item inside the future.
Are there Synopsis Exceptions? - ANS-Found in FAR five.202
1. National safety could be compromised
2. Compelling urgency could reason the Government to be significantly injured if the
organization complied with the time durations particular
three. A overseas authorities is reimbursing the organisation for the fee of the acquisition; or an
global agreement or treaty between the U.S. And a overseas authorities/international company
has the effect of requiring that the acquisition will be from unique sources.
,4. The contract motion is expressly authorized or required by using statute
5. The settlement motion is for application services (apart from telecommunications) and
handiest one source is to be had
6. The settlement motion is an order beneath an indefinite shipping agreement
7. The movement results from acceptance of a suggestion under the Small Business Innovation
Development Act of 1982
eight. The proposed settlement action consequences from the attractiveness of an unsolicited
research proposal that demonstrates a completely unique and innovative concept and any note
might improperly expose the originality of the proposed research or proprietary records.
Nine. The proposed agreement action is made for perishable elements and advanced notice
isn't always reasonable
10. The proposed agreement movement is made underneath conditions defined in 6.302-3, or
6.302-5 in regards to logo name commercial items for legal resale, or 6.302-7, and advance
notice isn't suitable or affordable
eleven. The proposed settlement movement is made beneath the phrases of an current
settlement that was formerly synopsized
12. The proposed agreement action may be made and accomplished out of doors the U.S. And
most effective neighborhood assets could be solicited.
13. The proposed agreement motion will no longer exceed the simplified acquisition threshold,
could be made thru a way that gives access to the attention through GPE, and permits the
general public to respond to the soli
As the Contracting Officer on a source selection you lately despatched out the notice to
unsuccessful offerors and feature received numerous requests for debriefings. Some of the
requests are for pre-award debriefs and a few are for publish award debriefs. What are the
matters you can/won't tell the offerors within the debriefings? - ANS-Authority: FAR 15.505 /
FAR 15.506
At a minimum, Pre-Award debriefings shall consist of --
(1) The company's assessment of significant elements inside the offeror's proposal;
(2) A precis of the cause for putting off the offeror from the opposition; and
(three) Reasonable responses to relevant questions about whether supply choice approaches
contained within the solicitation, applicable regulations, and other applicable authorities have
been followed inside the manner of casting off the offeror from the competition.
Preaward debriefings shall not expose --
(1) The range of offerors;
(2) The identification of different offerors;
(three) The content material of other offerors proposals;
(4) The rating of other offerors;
(five) The evaluation of different offerors; or
(6) Any of the data prohibited in 15.506(e).
For a Post-Award
(1) The Government's assessment of the widespread weaknesses or deficiencies inside the
offeror's thought, if applicable;
, (2) The overall evaluated price or price (together with unit expenses), and technical rating, if
relevant, of the successful offeror and the debriefed offeror, and beyond performance records at
the debriefed offeror;
(three) The usual ranking of all offerors, when any rating became advanced by the corporation
throughout the source selection;
(4) A precis of the rationale for award;
(five) For acquisitions of commercial items, the make and version of the item to be delivered by
way of the a hit offeror; and
(6) Reasonable responses to relevant questions on whether or not supply selection strategies
contained within the solicitation, relevant rules, and other relevant authorities were observed.
The debriefing shall not include factor-through-point comparisons of the debriefed offeror's
concept with the ones of other offerors. Moreover, the debriefing shall not display any records
prohibited from disclosure by way of 24.202 or exempt from relea
As the Contracting Officer, you had been involved in a supply selection for the overhaul and
protection (which includes portray) of the C-one hundred thirty fleet. The effort become
competed many of the incumbent ALC and numerous commercial restore centers. A contractor
won the opposition and also you issued a Requirements Contract, with FAR clause fifty
two.216-21, for a performance length of one year. The agreement also consists of a 3-12
months choice. Prior to award, a Pre-Award Survey changed into finished through DCMA.
DCMA confirmed that the contractor had the capability, quality manipulate, and good enough
ability. However, after the primary few gadgets had been painted, in spite of passing exceptional
inspections, your Program Manager turned into unhappy with the satisfactory of the paint jobs.
He tells you that the contractor's paint task would not compare to the nice work of the ALC.
Subsequently, your Program Manager directs the next few C-130s be brought to the ALC for
portray, wh - ANS-Since it's far very early within the overall performance duration, the
contractual limits have not possibly been met. No other situation justifies exception, consistent
with the Requirements clause (FAR fifty two.216-21) within the agreement. Therefore, The
Program Manager will violate the conditions of the Requirements Clause via redirecting any
work faraway from the contractor. The a hit bidder's idea changed into based totally on receiving
all predicted work; in the end, the Program Manager risks criminal movement (a declare) from
the successful contractor.
One factor you may deliver up is that the contract time period is most effective for 365 days. If
the PM is unhappy with the "exceptional" of the contractor's overall performance, despite the
fact that the paintings complies with the contract, he have to review the contractual necessities
and decide if the best should be upgraded on a later procurement. Perhaps, a higher first-class
requirement will result in much less frequent paint jobs, thereby saving money. On the opposite
hand, possibly the better nice isn't vital and not really worth a premium to in reality make the
aircraft look higher. In any event, the PM is obligated to ship all paintings to the a hit contractor
for 365 days, up to the envisioned amount, until a few authorized exception exists, like an
urgency that the contractor in not able to perform.
By the way, the Program Manager might be tempted to use the alternatives as award-term
incentives and persuade the contractor to growth the "quality" of the work above the
