CPFO - Procurement Exam Questions with Correct Answers Latest Update 2025/2026
What's the definition of procurement? - Answers The process through which a government
acquires goods and services for its own use
What are the 3 stages of procurement? - Answers 1 Planning and scheduling; 2 Source selection
(purchasing); 3 Contact administration
Why is procurement important? - Answers 1 Significant % of govt spending and of US gross
national product; 2 Program impact; 3 Public trust and confidence
What is the fundamental objective of procurement? - Answers To provide depts with the goods
and services they need in the right quality and quantity, on a timely basis, as efficiently as
possible and at the lowest overall cost.
How does Procurement attempt to achieve its fundamental objective? - Answers Through as
much competition as possible
How does Procurement attempt maintain integrity? - Answers By complying with all applicable
legal provisions.
What are Procurement's goals? - Answers 1 Foster competition, 2 Fairness, 3 Integrity, 4 Cost, 5
Quality, 6 Timeliness, 7 Social and economic objectives, 8 Transparency
What is the legal framework for procurement? - Answers 1 State law; 2 Local ordinances; 3
Federal requirements
Where are the Federal procurement requirements located? - Answers The Federal Acquisition
Regulations
What does the Federal Acquisition Regulations attempt to cover? - Answers To simplify federal
acquisition thresholds and procedures.
What do govt procurement laws generally emphasize? - Answers They generally emphasize
price and accountability (not total cost and efficiency).
In whom does the procurement authority live? - Answers The designated Chief Procurement
Official (not program officials).
What governs procurement actions? - Answers They are governed by 1 Common law; 2 Uniform
Commercial Code; 3 Government procurement laws and ordinances.
Can program officials sign contracts and agreements? - Answers No, only the Chief
Procurement Official may sign procurement documents as there could be significant legal
constraints and exposures.
What are the essential elements of procurement? 1-5 - Answers 1 purchasing structure, policy
, and authority; 2 competitive processes; 3 planning and scheduling; 4 specifications; 5 provisions
for and restrictions on processes that limit competition
What are the essential elements of procurement? 6-10 - Answers 6 bid evaluation and award; 7
quality assurance; 8 safeguards; 9 materials management; 10 cooperative purchasing
What are the essential elements of procurement? 11-13 - Answers 11 professional development;
12 clear written procedures available to the public; 13 environmental concerns
What are the 4 basic elements of procurement? - Answers 1 authority; 2 competition; 3
documentation; 4 compliance
What does the "authority" element of procurement speak to? - Answers That the persons taking
procurement actions must have formal authorization to do so.
What does the "competition" element of procurement speak to? - Answers That the methods
selecting a provider of goods or services should be as competitive as possible.
What does the "documentation" element of procurement speak to? - Answers That all steps in
the procurement cycle should be recorded in writing.
What does the "compliance" element of procurement speak to? - Answers That both the
government and the contractor are legally required to adhere to the written commitments they
make.
What are procurement documents? - Answers 1 solicitations; 2 offers; 3 contracts; 4
amendments
Are requisitions considered to be procurement documents? - Answers No, they are not
considered to be procurement documents.
Are RFQ considered to be procurement documents? - Answers Yes, they are considered to be
procurement documents.
What is exempt from Procurement? - Answers 1 agreements to provide care to individuals; 2
franchise agreements; 3 grants-in-aid; 4 joint ventures; 5 other (real estate, utilities)
What's the difference between a grant and a contract? - Answers A grant is financial assistance
or pass through of federal grant funds. A contract is an acquisition.
What is the purpose of a grant? - Answers The principal purpose is to provide support or
stimulate activities which have a public purpose.
What is the purpose of a contract? - Answers The principal purpose is the acquisition of
property or services from the direct use of the government.
Why is a high standard of professional ethics required of all personnel who participate in, or who
What's the definition of procurement? - Answers The process through which a government
acquires goods and services for its own use
What are the 3 stages of procurement? - Answers 1 Planning and scheduling; 2 Source selection
(purchasing); 3 Contact administration
Why is procurement important? - Answers 1 Significant % of govt spending and of US gross
national product; 2 Program impact; 3 Public trust and confidence
What is the fundamental objective of procurement? - Answers To provide depts with the goods
and services they need in the right quality and quantity, on a timely basis, as efficiently as
possible and at the lowest overall cost.
How does Procurement attempt to achieve its fundamental objective? - Answers Through as
much competition as possible
How does Procurement attempt maintain integrity? - Answers By complying with all applicable
legal provisions.
What are Procurement's goals? - Answers 1 Foster competition, 2 Fairness, 3 Integrity, 4 Cost, 5
Quality, 6 Timeliness, 7 Social and economic objectives, 8 Transparency
What is the legal framework for procurement? - Answers 1 State law; 2 Local ordinances; 3
Federal requirements
Where are the Federal procurement requirements located? - Answers The Federal Acquisition
Regulations
What does the Federal Acquisition Regulations attempt to cover? - Answers To simplify federal
acquisition thresholds and procedures.
What do govt procurement laws generally emphasize? - Answers They generally emphasize
price and accountability (not total cost and efficiency).
In whom does the procurement authority live? - Answers The designated Chief Procurement
Official (not program officials).
What governs procurement actions? - Answers They are governed by 1 Common law; 2 Uniform
Commercial Code; 3 Government procurement laws and ordinances.
Can program officials sign contracts and agreements? - Answers No, only the Chief
Procurement Official may sign procurement documents as there could be significant legal
constraints and exposures.
What are the essential elements of procurement? 1-5 - Answers 1 purchasing structure, policy
, and authority; 2 competitive processes; 3 planning and scheduling; 4 specifications; 5 provisions
for and restrictions on processes that limit competition
What are the essential elements of procurement? 6-10 - Answers 6 bid evaluation and award; 7
quality assurance; 8 safeguards; 9 materials management; 10 cooperative purchasing
What are the essential elements of procurement? 11-13 - Answers 11 professional development;
12 clear written procedures available to the public; 13 environmental concerns
What are the 4 basic elements of procurement? - Answers 1 authority; 2 competition; 3
documentation; 4 compliance
What does the "authority" element of procurement speak to? - Answers That the persons taking
procurement actions must have formal authorization to do so.
What does the "competition" element of procurement speak to? - Answers That the methods
selecting a provider of goods or services should be as competitive as possible.
What does the "documentation" element of procurement speak to? - Answers That all steps in
the procurement cycle should be recorded in writing.
What does the "compliance" element of procurement speak to? - Answers That both the
government and the contractor are legally required to adhere to the written commitments they
make.
What are procurement documents? - Answers 1 solicitations; 2 offers; 3 contracts; 4
amendments
Are requisitions considered to be procurement documents? - Answers No, they are not
considered to be procurement documents.
Are RFQ considered to be procurement documents? - Answers Yes, they are considered to be
procurement documents.
What is exempt from Procurement? - Answers 1 agreements to provide care to individuals; 2
franchise agreements; 3 grants-in-aid; 4 joint ventures; 5 other (real estate, utilities)
What's the difference between a grant and a contract? - Answers A grant is financial assistance
or pass through of federal grant funds. A contract is an acquisition.
What is the purpose of a grant? - Answers The principal purpose is to provide support or
stimulate activities which have a public purpose.
What is the purpose of a contract? - Answers The principal purpose is the acquisition of
property or services from the direct use of the government.
Why is a high standard of professional ethics required of all personnel who participate in, or who
