CON 3900 Source Selection – FAR Study Guide

CON 3900 Source Selection FAR – EXAM TEST
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWESR (VERIFIED
ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2025/2026 Q&A |INSTANT
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1. Which FAR part primarily governs federal source selection procedures?
A) FAR Part 12
B) FAR Part 15
C) FAR Part 19
D) FAR Part 36
*Correct Answer: B – FAR Part 15 governs contracting by negotiation, including
source selection procedures.
2. What is the primary purpose of a Source Selection Plan (SSP)?
A) To document contract award history
B) To outline the evaluation process and responsibilities in source selection
C) To define the contractor’s performance metrics
D) To approve subcontractors
*Correct Answer: B – The SSP ensures the evaluation and award process is
structured, fair, and compliant with FAR.
3. Which document officially announces a government requirement to the
public?
A) Request for Proposal (RFP)
B) Sources Sought Notice
C) Request for Quotation (RFQ)
D) Statement of Work (SOW)
*Correct Answer: B – A Sources Sought Notice identifies potential sources before
issuing a formal solicitation.

,4. What is the standard evaluation criterion in a FAR Part 15 negotiated
acquisition?
A) Past performance
B) Price
C) Technical approach
D) All of the above
*Correct Answer: D – FAR Part 15 requires evaluation of price, technical factors,
and past performance.
5. Which FAR part defines “Lowest Price Technically Acceptable” (LPTA) source
selection?
A) FAR Part 14
B) FAR Part 15
C) FAR Part 19
D) FAR Part 36
*Correct Answer: B – FAR 15.101-2 explains LPTA as an evaluation method where
the lowest-priced, acceptable offer is selected.
6. Who is responsible for making the source selection decision?
A) Contracting Officer (CO)
B) Technical Evaluation Team
C) Program Manager
D) Administrative Contracting Officer (ACO)
*Correct Answer: A – The CO has the authority to select the winning offer based
on the evaluation report.
7. In source selection, what is the primary purpose of the Source Selection
Evaluation Board (SSEB)?
A) To negotiate contract terms
B) To evaluate proposals against established criteria
C) To approve the solicitation
D) To conduct market research
*Correct Answer: B – The SSEB evaluates proposals and prepares the evaluation
report for the CO.

, 8. Which factor is considered in best value tradeoff decisions?
A) Price only
B) Technical merit only
C) Both price and non-price factors
D) Past performance only
*Correct Answer: C – Best value tradeoffs allow the CO to weigh technical factors
against price.
9. When can discussions be held with offerors under FAR Part 15?
A) Always, before award
B) Only if the CO determines discussions are necessary
C) Only for commercial item acquisitions
D) Never
*Correct Answer: B – FAR 15.306(d) allows discussions when clarifications or
improvements are needed.
10. What is a “competitive range” in source selection?
A) All initial proposals received
B) Proposals reasonably susceptible of being selected for award
C) Only the lowest-priced proposals
D) Only past successful offerors
*Correct Answer: B – The competitive range includes proposals with a reasonable
chance of award.
11. What is the primary consideration in past performance evaluation?
A) Contractor’s marketing materials
B) Relevance, recency, and quality of performance
C) Price proposals
D) Number of employees
*Correct Answer: B – FAR 15.305(a) requires past performance evaluations to
focus on relevant, recent, and quality metrics.
12. Which of the following is a prohibited factor in source selection?
A) Price
B) Technical approach