FAC-C CERTIFICATION EXAM PREP/ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS, GRADED A+
Question 1
Which of the following statements is true regarding the lowest price technically acceptable
(LPTA) source selection approach?
A) The government must conduct tradeoffs between price and technical factors.
B) All non-price factors are evaluated on a pass/fail basis.
C) Award is made to the offeror with the highest technical score.
D) Past performance is the most important evaluation factor.
E) The government can pay a higher price for a technically superior proposal.
Correct Answer: B) All non-price factors are evaluated on a pass/fail basis.
Rationale: In an LPTA source selection, the government establishes minimum technical
requirements. Proposals are first evaluated to see if they meet these minimums (pass). If they
do, they are considered technically acceptable. The award is then made to the acceptable
offeror with the lowest evaluated price. There are no tradeoffs.
Question 2
What is a characteristic of the most successful scoring or rating methods used in a tradeoff
source selection?
A) They use a rigid, mathematical formula that cannot be deviated from.
B) They allow maximum flexibility in making tradeoffs among factors.
C) They assign a "pass/fail" rating to all technical factors.
D) They make price the single most important factor.
E) They are developed by the offerors, not the government.
Correct Answer: B) They allow maximum flexibility in making tradeoffs among factors.
Rationale: The purpose of a tradeoff is to allow for a business judgment that a higher-priced
proposal may offer a better overall value. A successful rating method (like adjectival ratings)
provides the source selection authority with the flexibility to determine if a higher technical
rating is worth the additional price, rather than being locked into a rigid scoring system.
,Question 3
If an offeror lacks a relevant past performance history for a specific procurement, how must the
evaluators rate this lack of information?
A) As a "poor" or "unacceptable" rating.
B) As a "neutral" rating, neither favorable nor unfavorable.
C) As a "marginal" rating.
D) As a "favorable" rating, giving them the benefit of the doubt.
E) The proposal must be rejected.
Correct Answer: B) As a "neutral" rating, neither favorable nor unfavorable.
Rationale: FAR 15.305(a)(2)(iv) explicitly states that in the case of an offeror without a record
of relevant past performance, the offeror may not be evaluated favorably or unfavorably on
past performance. It is treated as an unknown, neutral factor.
Question 4
Which of the following statements correctly defines negotiations?
A) Exchanges that occur only in a sole source environment.
B) Limited exchanges used to clarify minor errors in a proposal.
C) Exchanges in a competitive or sole source environment undertaken with the intent of
allowing the offeror to revise its proposal.
D) Discussions held with offerors after the award decision has been made.
E) Written questions submitted by offerors before the proposal due date.
Correct Answer: C) Exchanges in a competitive or sole source environment undertaken with
the intent of allowing the offeror to revise its proposal.
Rationale: This is the essence of negotiations (also called discussions) under FAR Part 15. They
are interactive exchanges that occur after the competitive range is established, where the
government points out weaknesses and deficiencies, allowing offerors to submit a revised
final proposal.
Question 5
What is the ultimate objective of negotiations in government procurement?
,A) To obtain the lowest possible price.
B) To ensure the contractor makes a fair profit.
C) To obtain the best value for the government.
D) To reach an agreement as quickly as possible.
E) To establish a long-term relationship with the contractor.
Correct Answer: C) To obtain the best value for the government.
Rationale: While price is a key component, the ultimate goal is to achieve the best overall
value, which is the optimal combination of cost, quality, and performance that meets the
agency's needs. Negotiations are a tool to achieve this balance.
Question 6
Which of the following statements is true regarding negotiation styles?
A) Positional bargaining, where each party holds a fixed position, is the preferred style.
B) Interest-based negotiation, which seeks a win/win outcome, is the preferred style.
C) The government should never reveal its interests during a negotiation.
D) A "win/lose" outcome is the primary goal of government negotiations.
E) The style of negotiation is dictated by the contractor, not the government.
Correct Answer: B) Interest-based negotiation, which seeks a win/win outcome, is the
preferred style.
Rationale: Interest-based negotiation focuses on understanding the underlying interests of
both parties to find a mutually beneficial solution. This collaborative "win/win" approach is
preferred as it leads to better outcomes and a more positive long-term relationship.
Question 7
What is the purpose of "communications" held with offerors prior to the establishment of a
competitive range?
A) To allow offerors to revise their entire proposal.
B) To negotiate the final price.
C) To address adverse past performance information that an offeror has not had a previous
opportunity to address.
, D) To inform an offeror that they will be receiving the award.
E) To ask for a best and final offer.
Correct Answer: C) To address adverse past performance information that an offeror has not
had a previous opportunity to address.
Rationale: Communications are limited exchanges used to resolve uncertainties and
determine if a proposal should be included in the competitive range. A key use is to ensure
fairness by allowing an offeror to respond to negative past performance information before a
decision is made to exclude them.
Question 8
When a contracting officer anticipates awarding a contract without holding discussions, they
may engage in limited exchanges with offerors to resolve minor or clerical errors. What are
these exchanges called?
A) Negotiations
B) Discussions
C) Communications
D) Clarifications
E) Debriefings
Correct Answer: D) Clarifications
Rationale: Clarifications are limited to clarifying certain aspects of a proposal and do not
allow the offeror to revise their proposal. They are used when the government believes it can
make an award based on the initial proposals received.
Question 9
If the government decides to hold discussions, who must they be held with?
A) Only the offeror with the lowest price.
B) Only the offeror with the highest technical rating.
C) All offerors who submitted a proposal.
D) All offerors included in the competitive range.
E) Only the incumbent contractor.
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS, GRADED A+
Question 1
Which of the following statements is true regarding the lowest price technically acceptable
(LPTA) source selection approach?
A) The government must conduct tradeoffs between price and technical factors.
B) All non-price factors are evaluated on a pass/fail basis.
C) Award is made to the offeror with the highest technical score.
D) Past performance is the most important evaluation factor.
E) The government can pay a higher price for a technically superior proposal.
Correct Answer: B) All non-price factors are evaluated on a pass/fail basis.
Rationale: In an LPTA source selection, the government establishes minimum technical
requirements. Proposals are first evaluated to see if they meet these minimums (pass). If they
do, they are considered technically acceptable. The award is then made to the acceptable
offeror with the lowest evaluated price. There are no tradeoffs.
Question 2
What is a characteristic of the most successful scoring or rating methods used in a tradeoff
source selection?
A) They use a rigid, mathematical formula that cannot be deviated from.
B) They allow maximum flexibility in making tradeoffs among factors.
C) They assign a "pass/fail" rating to all technical factors.
D) They make price the single most important factor.
E) They are developed by the offerors, not the government.
Correct Answer: B) They allow maximum flexibility in making tradeoffs among factors.
Rationale: The purpose of a tradeoff is to allow for a business judgment that a higher-priced
proposal may offer a better overall value. A successful rating method (like adjectival ratings)
provides the source selection authority with the flexibility to determine if a higher technical
rating is worth the additional price, rather than being locked into a rigid scoring system.
,Question 3
If an offeror lacks a relevant past performance history for a specific procurement, how must the
evaluators rate this lack of information?
A) As a "poor" or "unacceptable" rating.
B) As a "neutral" rating, neither favorable nor unfavorable.
C) As a "marginal" rating.
D) As a "favorable" rating, giving them the benefit of the doubt.
E) The proposal must be rejected.
Correct Answer: B) As a "neutral" rating, neither favorable nor unfavorable.
Rationale: FAR 15.305(a)(2)(iv) explicitly states that in the case of an offeror without a record
of relevant past performance, the offeror may not be evaluated favorably or unfavorably on
past performance. It is treated as an unknown, neutral factor.
Question 4
Which of the following statements correctly defines negotiations?
A) Exchanges that occur only in a sole source environment.
B) Limited exchanges used to clarify minor errors in a proposal.
C) Exchanges in a competitive or sole source environment undertaken with the intent of
allowing the offeror to revise its proposal.
D) Discussions held with offerors after the award decision has been made.
E) Written questions submitted by offerors before the proposal due date.
Correct Answer: C) Exchanges in a competitive or sole source environment undertaken with
the intent of allowing the offeror to revise its proposal.
Rationale: This is the essence of negotiations (also called discussions) under FAR Part 15. They
are interactive exchanges that occur after the competitive range is established, where the
government points out weaknesses and deficiencies, allowing offerors to submit a revised
final proposal.
Question 5
What is the ultimate objective of negotiations in government procurement?
,A) To obtain the lowest possible price.
B) To ensure the contractor makes a fair profit.
C) To obtain the best value for the government.
D) To reach an agreement as quickly as possible.
E) To establish a long-term relationship with the contractor.
Correct Answer: C) To obtain the best value for the government.
Rationale: While price is a key component, the ultimate goal is to achieve the best overall
value, which is the optimal combination of cost, quality, and performance that meets the
agency's needs. Negotiations are a tool to achieve this balance.
Question 6
Which of the following statements is true regarding negotiation styles?
A) Positional bargaining, where each party holds a fixed position, is the preferred style.
B) Interest-based negotiation, which seeks a win/win outcome, is the preferred style.
C) The government should never reveal its interests during a negotiation.
D) A "win/lose" outcome is the primary goal of government negotiations.
E) The style of negotiation is dictated by the contractor, not the government.
Correct Answer: B) Interest-based negotiation, which seeks a win/win outcome, is the
preferred style.
Rationale: Interest-based negotiation focuses on understanding the underlying interests of
both parties to find a mutually beneficial solution. This collaborative "win/win" approach is
preferred as it leads to better outcomes and a more positive long-term relationship.
Question 7
What is the purpose of "communications" held with offerors prior to the establishment of a
competitive range?
A) To allow offerors to revise their entire proposal.
B) To negotiate the final price.
C) To address adverse past performance information that an offeror has not had a previous
opportunity to address.
, D) To inform an offeror that they will be receiving the award.
E) To ask for a best and final offer.
Correct Answer: C) To address adverse past performance information that an offeror has not
had a previous opportunity to address.
Rationale: Communications are limited exchanges used to resolve uncertainties and
determine if a proposal should be included in the competitive range. A key use is to ensure
fairness by allowing an offeror to respond to negative past performance information before a
decision is made to exclude them.
Question 8
When a contracting officer anticipates awarding a contract without holding discussions, they
may engage in limited exchanges with offerors to resolve minor or clerical errors. What are
these exchanges called?
A) Negotiations
B) Discussions
C) Communications
D) Clarifications
E) Debriefings
Correct Answer: D) Clarifications
Rationale: Clarifications are limited to clarifying certain aspects of a proposal and do not
allow the offeror to revise their proposal. They are used when the government believes it can
make an award based on the initial proposals received.
Question 9
If the government decides to hold discussions, who must they be held with?
A) Only the offeror with the lowest price.
B) Only the offeror with the highest technical rating.
C) All offerors who submitted a proposal.
D) All offerors included in the competitive range.
E) Only the incumbent contractor.
