CON 3910 EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What are the three Contract Life Cycle Phases of the contracting process? - Answer -
Pre-Award, Award & Post-Award
Pre-Award Phase - Answer -All the work performed by both the buyer (Government or
prime contractor) and seller (contractor or subcontractor) in communicating the buyer's
requirements and providing a solution to those requirements
Who prepares an offer?
a. The Government
b. The offeror
c. The seller
d. The buyer - Answer -b. The offeror
c. The seller
During the post-award phase while the contract is being performed, who has
responsibility for quality? - Answer -The Seller
Term: The acquiring by contract with appropriated funds of supplies or services
(including construction) by and for the use of the Federal Government through purchase
or lease, whether the supplies or services are already in existence or must be created,
developed, demonstrated, and evaluated. - Answer -Acquisition (FAR 2.101)
Term: Consists of all participants in Government acquisition including not only
representatives of the technical, supply, and procurement communities but also the
customers they serve, and the contractors who provide the products and services. -
Answer -Acquisition team (FAR 1.102-3)
FAR reference(s): Requires appointing officials, when selecting contracting officers, to
consider the complexity and dollar value of the acquisitions to be assigned and the
candidate's experience, training, education, business acumen, judgment, character, and
reputation. - Answer -FAR 1.603-2
FAR reference(s): Contracting officers are responsible for ensuring performance of all
necessary actions for effective contracting, ensuring compliance with the terms of the
contract , and safeguarding the interests of the United States in its contractual
relationships. - Answer -FAR 1.602-2
FAR reference(s): Personal conflict of interest. - Answer -FAR part 3
FAR reference(s): Organization conflict of interest. - Answer -FAR part 9
Openness for the contracting officer applies primarily to?
a. The Acquisition Team
,b. Contractors
c. Offerors
d. The Contracting Team - Answer -a. The Acquisition Team
b. Contractors
c. Offerors
d. The Contracting Team
FAR reference(s): Provides guidance on establishing, maintaining, and disposing of
Government contract files. - Answer -FAR subpart 4.8
You need to document a business decision, such as the use of a specific contract type.
What document will you create? - Answer -A Determination and Findings
At the conclusion of negotiations, the contracting officer will complete a: - Answer -
Price Negotiation Memorandum
Prior to negotiating a sole source contract, the contracting officer must complete a: -
Answer -Justification and Approval
SF 26 - Answer -Award/Contract
Used to award negotiated contracts in which signatures of both parties on a single
document is appropriate.
SF 30 - Answer -Amendment of Solicitation/Modification of Contract
Used to amend any solicitation or modify any contract.
SF 33 - Answer -Solicitation, Offer, and Award
May be used to award either negotiated contracts or contracts utilizing sealed bidding.
SF 44 - Answer -Purchase Order/Invoice/Voucher
Used for simplified acquisitions at or below the micro-purchase threshold, except for
purchases under unusual and compelling urgency or in support of contingency
operations.
SF 1409 - Answer -Abstract of Offers
Prescribed for use in recording bids.
SF 1442 - Answer -Solicitation, Offer, and Award (Construction, Alteration, or Repair)
Used for soliciting offers and awarding contracts expected to exceed the simplified
acquisition threshold. These acquisitions must be for:
,Construction, alteration or repair; or
Dismantling, demolition, or removal of improvements.
SF 1449 - Answer -Solicitation/Contract/Order for Commercial Items
Required for solicitations for commercial items if the acquisition will exceed the
simplified acquisition threshold. It is encouraged for commercial acquisitions not
exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold.
DD 254 - Answer -Contract Security Classification Specification
Used to provide security classification guidance to U.S. contractors, and subcontractors
as applicable, requiring access to information classified as "Confidential", "Secret", or
"Top Secret".
DD 1155 - Answer -Order for Supplies and Services
Used for placing orders under indefinite-delivery contracts or if the SF 1449 is not used
under simplified acquisition procedures.
DD 1547 - Answer -Record of Weighted Guidelines Application
Used to facilitate a structured approach to profit/fee analysis.
DD 1861 - Answer -Contract Facilities Capital Cost of Money
Used to estimate the facilities capital cost of money and capital employed ( used in
conjunction with the CASB-CMF and cost of money factors).
What is the overarching rule on accepting gifts from contractor employees? - Answer -
Federal employees are prohibited from soliciting or accepting gifts offered "because of
the employee's official position" or gifts offered by a "prohibited source."
A contracting officer shall not ___________ award a contract to a Government
employee or to a business concern or other organization owned or substantially owned
or controlled by one or more Government employees. - Answer -Knowingly
Term: A situation in which a covered employee has a financial interest, personal activity,
or relationship that could impair the employee's ability to act impartially and in the best
interest of the Government when performing under the contract. - Answer -Personal
Conflict of Interest
Term: The existence of a set of circumstances in which a contractor may be unable to
render impartial advice to the government, or might have impaired objectivity in
performing contracted work, or may obtain an unfair competitive advantage in the
marketplace when competing for government work where that unfair advantage is
, obtained performing a government contract. - Answer -Organizational Conflicts of
Interest
What are the two primary activities of the pre-award phase? - Answer -Develop
Solicitation & Develop Offer
FAR reference(s): Buying activities must also conduct market research to identify
potential suppliers, evaluate if the requirement is achievable, and perform any pre-offer
conferences or communication. - Answer -FAR part 10, Market Research
FAR reference(s): Primary source for information about contract types. - Answer -FAR
part 16, Types of Contracts
FAR reference(s): Addresses publicizing contract actions. - Answer -FAR part 5,
Publicizing Contract Actions
Award Phase - Answer -The second contract life cycle phase is Award. The award
phase involves all the work performed by both the buyer and seller that produces an
awarded contract. Some contracts are very simple and others are extremely complex,
but the majority fall somewhere in between.
What is the one activity of the award phase? - Answer -Form contract
FAR reference(s): Protest processes. - Answer -FAR part 33, Protests, Disputes, and
Appeals
Post-Award Phase - Answer -Involves all the work performed by both the buyer and
seller during contract performance, to include changes to the contract, contract close-
out, and sometimes termination of a contract
What are the two primary activities of the post-award phase? - Answer -Perform
Contract & Close Contract
FAR reference(s): Post-award activities and responsibilities. - Answer -FAR part 42,
Contract Administration and Audit Services
FAR reference(s): Guidance for planning and assuring successful contract performance.
- Answer -FAR part 46, Quality Assurance
FAR reference(s): Describe the Federal Government and DoD policies and procedures
as they relate to subcontractors. - Answer -FAR part 44, Subcontracting Policies and
Procedures
FAR reference(s): Covers contract modifications. - Answer -FAR Part 43, Contract
Modifications
What are the three Contract Life Cycle Phases of the contracting process? - Answer -
Pre-Award, Award & Post-Award
Pre-Award Phase - Answer -All the work performed by both the buyer (Government or
prime contractor) and seller (contractor or subcontractor) in communicating the buyer's
requirements and providing a solution to those requirements
Who prepares an offer?
a. The Government
b. The offeror
c. The seller
d. The buyer - Answer -b. The offeror
c. The seller
During the post-award phase while the contract is being performed, who has
responsibility for quality? - Answer -The Seller
Term: The acquiring by contract with appropriated funds of supplies or services
(including construction) by and for the use of the Federal Government through purchase
or lease, whether the supplies or services are already in existence or must be created,
developed, demonstrated, and evaluated. - Answer -Acquisition (FAR 2.101)
Term: Consists of all participants in Government acquisition including not only
representatives of the technical, supply, and procurement communities but also the
customers they serve, and the contractors who provide the products and services. -
Answer -Acquisition team (FAR 1.102-3)
FAR reference(s): Requires appointing officials, when selecting contracting officers, to
consider the complexity and dollar value of the acquisitions to be assigned and the
candidate's experience, training, education, business acumen, judgment, character, and
reputation. - Answer -FAR 1.603-2
FAR reference(s): Contracting officers are responsible for ensuring performance of all
necessary actions for effective contracting, ensuring compliance with the terms of the
contract , and safeguarding the interests of the United States in its contractual
relationships. - Answer -FAR 1.602-2
FAR reference(s): Personal conflict of interest. - Answer -FAR part 3
FAR reference(s): Organization conflict of interest. - Answer -FAR part 9
Openness for the contracting officer applies primarily to?
a. The Acquisition Team
,b. Contractors
c. Offerors
d. The Contracting Team - Answer -a. The Acquisition Team
b. Contractors
c. Offerors
d. The Contracting Team
FAR reference(s): Provides guidance on establishing, maintaining, and disposing of
Government contract files. - Answer -FAR subpart 4.8
You need to document a business decision, such as the use of a specific contract type.
What document will you create? - Answer -A Determination and Findings
At the conclusion of negotiations, the contracting officer will complete a: - Answer -
Price Negotiation Memorandum
Prior to negotiating a sole source contract, the contracting officer must complete a: -
Answer -Justification and Approval
SF 26 - Answer -Award/Contract
Used to award negotiated contracts in which signatures of both parties on a single
document is appropriate.
SF 30 - Answer -Amendment of Solicitation/Modification of Contract
Used to amend any solicitation or modify any contract.
SF 33 - Answer -Solicitation, Offer, and Award
May be used to award either negotiated contracts or contracts utilizing sealed bidding.
SF 44 - Answer -Purchase Order/Invoice/Voucher
Used for simplified acquisitions at or below the micro-purchase threshold, except for
purchases under unusual and compelling urgency or in support of contingency
operations.
SF 1409 - Answer -Abstract of Offers
Prescribed for use in recording bids.
SF 1442 - Answer -Solicitation, Offer, and Award (Construction, Alteration, or Repair)
Used for soliciting offers and awarding contracts expected to exceed the simplified
acquisition threshold. These acquisitions must be for:
,Construction, alteration or repair; or
Dismantling, demolition, or removal of improvements.
SF 1449 - Answer -Solicitation/Contract/Order for Commercial Items
Required for solicitations for commercial items if the acquisition will exceed the
simplified acquisition threshold. It is encouraged for commercial acquisitions not
exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold.
DD 254 - Answer -Contract Security Classification Specification
Used to provide security classification guidance to U.S. contractors, and subcontractors
as applicable, requiring access to information classified as "Confidential", "Secret", or
"Top Secret".
DD 1155 - Answer -Order for Supplies and Services
Used for placing orders under indefinite-delivery contracts or if the SF 1449 is not used
under simplified acquisition procedures.
DD 1547 - Answer -Record of Weighted Guidelines Application
Used to facilitate a structured approach to profit/fee analysis.
DD 1861 - Answer -Contract Facilities Capital Cost of Money
Used to estimate the facilities capital cost of money and capital employed ( used in
conjunction with the CASB-CMF and cost of money factors).
What is the overarching rule on accepting gifts from contractor employees? - Answer -
Federal employees are prohibited from soliciting or accepting gifts offered "because of
the employee's official position" or gifts offered by a "prohibited source."
A contracting officer shall not ___________ award a contract to a Government
employee or to a business concern or other organization owned or substantially owned
or controlled by one or more Government employees. - Answer -Knowingly
Term: A situation in which a covered employee has a financial interest, personal activity,
or relationship that could impair the employee's ability to act impartially and in the best
interest of the Government when performing under the contract. - Answer -Personal
Conflict of Interest
Term: The existence of a set of circumstances in which a contractor may be unable to
render impartial advice to the government, or might have impaired objectivity in
performing contracted work, or may obtain an unfair competitive advantage in the
marketplace when competing for government work where that unfair advantage is
, obtained performing a government contract. - Answer -Organizational Conflicts of
Interest
What are the two primary activities of the pre-award phase? - Answer -Develop
Solicitation & Develop Offer
FAR reference(s): Buying activities must also conduct market research to identify
potential suppliers, evaluate if the requirement is achievable, and perform any pre-offer
conferences or communication. - Answer -FAR part 10, Market Research
FAR reference(s): Primary source for information about contract types. - Answer -FAR
part 16, Types of Contracts
FAR reference(s): Addresses publicizing contract actions. - Answer -FAR part 5,
Publicizing Contract Actions
Award Phase - Answer -The second contract life cycle phase is Award. The award
phase involves all the work performed by both the buyer and seller that produces an
awarded contract. Some contracts are very simple and others are extremely complex,
but the majority fall somewhere in between.
What is the one activity of the award phase? - Answer -Form contract
FAR reference(s): Protest processes. - Answer -FAR part 33, Protests, Disputes, and
Appeals
Post-Award Phase - Answer -Involves all the work performed by both the buyer and
seller during contract performance, to include changes to the contract, contract close-
out, and sometimes termination of a contract
What are the two primary activities of the post-award phase? - Answer -Perform
Contract & Close Contract
FAR reference(s): Post-award activities and responsibilities. - Answer -FAR part 42,
Contract Administration and Audit Services
FAR reference(s): Guidance for planning and assuring successful contract performance.
- Answer -FAR part 46, Quality Assurance
FAR reference(s): Describe the Federal Government and DoD policies and procedures
as they relate to subcontractors. - Answer -FAR part 44, Subcontracting Policies and
Procedures
FAR reference(s): Covers contract modifications. - Answer -FAR Part 43, Contract
Modifications
