1. Other than adequate price competition, describe at least three ways
that a price can be determined to be fair and reasonable when using
simplified acquisition procedures:
a. Market Research
b. Comparison to previous purchases
c. Contracting Officer's personal knowledge of the item being purchased
d. Comparison to an IGCE
Price analysis will normally be used to determine the reasonableness of total
evaluated price to support the selection of the lowest price, technically acceptable
Offeror. Although in exceptional cases when the determination of fair and
reasonable price requires additional information, the PCO may conduct analysis to
support the determination of whether the proposed price is fair and (FAR PART
13.106-3)
2. Address the importance of acquisition planning. What are some things
that you, as a Contracting Officer, can do to assist the customer in acquisition
planning?: Agencies shall perform acquisition planning and conduct market
research for all acquisitions in order to promote and provide for --Acquisition of
commercial items and Full and open competition (far part 7.103)
3. Discuss the difference in Far Part 12 commercial procurement's and non-
commercial procurement s: Under FAR part 12 procedures the KO has more
flexibility. For example the KO can combine the synopsis and solicitation into a
single document, thus reducing time to solicit and award contracts. (FAR PART
12.603) Also Agencies may allow less than the 30-day response time for receipt of
bids or proposals from the date of solicitation issuance which is required for non-
commercial items (FAR PART 12.205)
4. Discuss the steps That a contracting officer can take to help minimize a
protest in a source selection: Follow the Source Selection Plan. Ensure Sections
L and M match. Do not deviate from evaluation factors. Example Thundervision 5.
Describe the Bona Fide Need Rule. Provide an example explaining its
applicability to federal acquisition: The Bona Fide need rule is, "An appropriation
should not be used for the purchase of an article not necessary for the use of a
fiscal year in which ordered merely in order to use up such an appropriation." Buying
excessive amounts of items at end of year that an organization does not need. In
my personal experience I was about ready to place an order for $3M in computers
in mid September and the customer asked if the contractor could wait six months
to drop off the items since they had no way to store all of the items and they weren't
able to connect them to the network yet.
1/7
, 6. The COR has reported to you that the contractor has failed to deliver a
service per the contract requirements. What actions should you take as the
Contracting Officer in this instance?: confirm with the COR that the contractor
didn't perform IAW the PWS/SOW. Go over it together to ensure contractor didn't
abide by the terms and conditions. If the contractor didn't abide, contact them to
see if it can be correct
7. Why is it important to fully document the contract file?: Auditing
purposes and maintaining records of acquisition history
8. What should you do if you have any suspicion of any ethics violation or
fraud? How do you mentor and train your customer on ethics and fraud
concerns?(FAR PART 3 Improper Business Practices and Personal Conflicts
of Interest): Involve legal immediately, notify proper authorities (for fraud). Talk to
customers and mentor them on procurement integrity. Make it abundantly clear
that any action taken for personal gain is a red line. Ensure all members of the
team have the required ethics training (CLM 003), and non-disclosure
agreements.
9. What steps would you need to undertake if you recieved a contract
claim?: 1. Review all pertinent information submitted by the contractor.
2. Make a KO determination 3. Send to legal review negotiate in shortest amount of
time, adjust the delivery schedule, if additional funds are required, and are they
available, bilateral modification with all pertinent points, contractor statement of
release (FAR PART 33.206)
10. What are the minimum elements needed to create a legally binding
contract?: All parties must agree on the offer and acceptance terms; something of
value must be exchanged. Seller agrees to furnish goods or services & buyer
agrees to pay for them
11. What is market research, why is it important, and how is it documented?:
Market Research means collecting and analyzing information about capabilities
within the market to satisfy agency needs. (far part 2). Market research should be
provided with the requiring activity and should be documented by a summarized
narrative and include in the contract file (report). Can be documented on a stand-
alone MFR/D&F, 2579, commerciality determination, etc. Determine if sources
capable of satisfying requirements exist, determine the extent to which commercial
items or non-developmental items could be incorporated at the component level,
determine practices of firms engaged in producing, distributing and supporting...
determine whether consolidation or bundling is necessary or justified, determine
whether the criteria is part 19 are met for setting aside to small business. Online
2/7
that a price can be determined to be fair and reasonable when using
simplified acquisition procedures:
a. Market Research
b. Comparison to previous purchases
c. Contracting Officer's personal knowledge of the item being purchased
d. Comparison to an IGCE
Price analysis will normally be used to determine the reasonableness of total
evaluated price to support the selection of the lowest price, technically acceptable
Offeror. Although in exceptional cases when the determination of fair and
reasonable price requires additional information, the PCO may conduct analysis to
support the determination of whether the proposed price is fair and (FAR PART
13.106-3)
2. Address the importance of acquisition planning. What are some things
that you, as a Contracting Officer, can do to assist the customer in acquisition
planning?: Agencies shall perform acquisition planning and conduct market
research for all acquisitions in order to promote and provide for --Acquisition of
commercial items and Full and open competition (far part 7.103)
3. Discuss the difference in Far Part 12 commercial procurement's and non-
commercial procurement s: Under FAR part 12 procedures the KO has more
flexibility. For example the KO can combine the synopsis and solicitation into a
single document, thus reducing time to solicit and award contracts. (FAR PART
12.603) Also Agencies may allow less than the 30-day response time for receipt of
bids or proposals from the date of solicitation issuance which is required for non-
commercial items (FAR PART 12.205)
4. Discuss the steps That a contracting officer can take to help minimize a
protest in a source selection: Follow the Source Selection Plan. Ensure Sections
L and M match. Do not deviate from evaluation factors. Example Thundervision 5.
Describe the Bona Fide Need Rule. Provide an example explaining its
applicability to federal acquisition: The Bona Fide need rule is, "An appropriation
should not be used for the purchase of an article not necessary for the use of a
fiscal year in which ordered merely in order to use up such an appropriation." Buying
excessive amounts of items at end of year that an organization does not need. In
my personal experience I was about ready to place an order for $3M in computers
in mid September and the customer asked if the contractor could wait six months
to drop off the items since they had no way to store all of the items and they weren't
able to connect them to the network yet.
1/7
, 6. The COR has reported to you that the contractor has failed to deliver a
service per the contract requirements. What actions should you take as the
Contracting Officer in this instance?: confirm with the COR that the contractor
didn't perform IAW the PWS/SOW. Go over it together to ensure contractor didn't
abide by the terms and conditions. If the contractor didn't abide, contact them to
see if it can be correct
7. Why is it important to fully document the contract file?: Auditing
purposes and maintaining records of acquisition history
8. What should you do if you have any suspicion of any ethics violation or
fraud? How do you mentor and train your customer on ethics and fraud
concerns?(FAR PART 3 Improper Business Practices and Personal Conflicts
of Interest): Involve legal immediately, notify proper authorities (for fraud). Talk to
customers and mentor them on procurement integrity. Make it abundantly clear
that any action taken for personal gain is a red line. Ensure all members of the
team have the required ethics training (CLM 003), and non-disclosure
agreements.
9. What steps would you need to undertake if you recieved a contract
claim?: 1. Review all pertinent information submitted by the contractor.
2. Make a KO determination 3. Send to legal review negotiate in shortest amount of
time, adjust the delivery schedule, if additional funds are required, and are they
available, bilateral modification with all pertinent points, contractor statement of
release (FAR PART 33.206)
10. What are the minimum elements needed to create a legally binding
contract?: All parties must agree on the offer and acceptance terms; something of
value must be exchanged. Seller agrees to furnish goods or services & buyer
agrees to pay for them
11. What is market research, why is it important, and how is it documented?:
Market Research means collecting and analyzing information about capabilities
within the market to satisfy agency needs. (far part 2). Market research should be
provided with the requiring activity and should be documented by a summarized
narrative and include in the contract file (report). Can be documented on a stand-
alone MFR/D&F, 2579, commerciality determination, etc. Determine if sources
capable of satisfying requirements exist, determine the extent to which commercial
items or non-developmental items could be incorporated at the component level,
determine practices of firms engaged in producing, distributing and supporting...
determine whether consolidation or bundling is necessary or justified, determine
whether the criteria is part 19 are met for setting aside to small business. Online
2/7
