AF CONTRACTING OFFICER STUDY GUIDE
UNOFFICIAL 2026 COMPREHENSIVE EXAM
PREP WITH PRACTICE QUESTIONS
⫸ How does a PCO get their authority? Answer: - Constitution (Article
1, Section 8).
- Appointing officer with the proper authority from the agency.
- The SCO (Senior Center Contracting Officer) is the appointing
authority.
⫸ CO Discretion Level Answer: Allowed wide latitude to exercise
business judgment by the FAR
⫸ Requirement to be a CO Answer: 1. Be a Government employee,
unless otherwise authorized in agency regulations
2. Be certified, and maintain certification, in accordance as required by
law
⫸ Administrative contracting officer (ACO) Answer: CO responsible
for administering contracts as required by FAR 42.302(a) and (b)
⫸ ACO - Main Responsibilities Answer: All admin duties including but
not limited to:
1. Negotiating FPRAs
, 2. Establishing billing rates
3. All things CAS
4. Adequacy of Contractors Accounting System
⫸ Contracting Officer Representative Answer: 1. Eyes and ears of the
CO on required on all (non ffp) service contracts
2. Must be government employee, designated in writing registered in
JAM & SPM Surveillance and Performance Monitoring (SPM) system
3. No binding authority
⫸ COR - Responsibilities Answer: 1. Ensure the KTR is performing
2. Work performed is within scope
3. The CO is informed
⫸ Types of COR Answer: Type A: Fixed Price, Low risk, no incentives
Type C: Unique contract requirements. COR highly educated with
specialized training
Type B: Everything besides A and C
UNOFFICIAL 2026 COMPREHENSIVE EXAM
PREP WITH PRACTICE QUESTIONS
⫸ How does a PCO get their authority? Answer: - Constitution (Article
1, Section 8).
- Appointing officer with the proper authority from the agency.
- The SCO (Senior Center Contracting Officer) is the appointing
authority.
⫸ CO Discretion Level Answer: Allowed wide latitude to exercise
business judgment by the FAR
⫸ Requirement to be a CO Answer: 1. Be a Government employee,
unless otherwise authorized in agency regulations
2. Be certified, and maintain certification, in accordance as required by
law
⫸ Administrative contracting officer (ACO) Answer: CO responsible
for administering contracts as required by FAR 42.302(a) and (b)
⫸ ACO - Main Responsibilities Answer: All admin duties including but
not limited to:
1. Negotiating FPRAs
, 2. Establishing billing rates
3. All things CAS
4. Adequacy of Contractors Accounting System
⫸ Contracting Officer Representative Answer: 1. Eyes and ears of the
CO on required on all (non ffp) service contracts
2. Must be government employee, designated in writing registered in
JAM & SPM Surveillance and Performance Monitoring (SPM) system
3. No binding authority
⫸ COR - Responsibilities Answer: 1. Ensure the KTR is performing
2. Work performed is within scope
3. The CO is informed
⫸ Types of COR Answer: Type A: Fixed Price, Low risk, no incentives
Type C: Unique contract requirements. COR highly educated with
specialized training
Type B: Everything besides A and C
