Contract Specialist Practice Exam

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• If market research indicates that neither commercial items nor non-developmental items are available to satisfy agency needs, agencies
• Which procurement approach should contracting activities use for acquisitions of commercial items to maximize efficiency?
• Which statement about project wage determinations is true?
• When acquiring commercial items, the contracting officer must establish price reasonableness in accordance with FAR 13.106-3, 14.408-2, or subpart 15.4, as applicable.
• If a contractor has an approved purchasing system, which statement is correct regarding subcontracts?
• If other than full and open competition is anticipated, the acquisition plan must be coordinated with the cognizant
• Which statement about advance agreements is NOT true?
• _____ may be used for emergency acquisitions when contract performance must begin immediately.
• Acquisition planning should begin
• When is an agency required to use a GSA area-wide contract for ordering utility services?
• T/F Generally, the government will refuse to award a contract on the grounds that the prospective contractor may infringe a patent.
• Pre-award debriefings shall NOT disclose which of the following?
• Which of the following is NOT an exemption to the Walsh-Healey Act for contracts over $15,000?
• A protest concerning small business representation
• Imprest funds may be used for transactions up to what amount?
• When considering a simplified acquisition, which database should contracting officers use as their primary source of vendor information?
• The simplified acquisition threshold for any contract in support of contingency operations outside the U.S. is
• For performance-based payments, which contract type is required?
• In evaluating best-value procurements, which item is NOT typically considered as an evaluation factor?
• Which of the following is NOT an emergency action flexibility authorized to support a contingency operation?
• What term describes a person who offers transportation services to the general public for compensation?
• Who typically issues project wage determinations?
• What is the name of GSA's electronic system that allows ordering activities to post requirements, obtain quotes, and issue orders electronically?
• Acquisition planning should begin when?
• The contracting officer shall set aside a portion of acquisition, except for construction, for exclusive small business participation when
• Unilateral modifications are NOT used to:
• Tradeoffs in the source selection process are not permitted in which situation?
• The three-year record retention period begins from which date?
• Who is responsible for selecting the appropriate contract type for a research and development requirement?
• Change orders issued under the changes clause of the contract use which form?
• Alternative dispute resolution is best described as:
• Which statement best describes when exchanges of information among interested parties are encouraged?
• Which of the following is NOT excluded or exempted from the definition of advisory or assistance services?
• Which of the following constitutes acceptable evidence to establish the time of receipt at the government installation?
• Which government contracting practice can minimize the opportunity for buying in?
• Prior to entering into a contract for information technology, an agency should analyze
• The government's policy to resolve contractual issues in controversy is to:
• The contractor purchasing system review provides the administrative contracting officer a basis for all of the following EXCEPT:
• Contractor representations and certifications are submitted through which system?
• Under simplified acquisition procedures, which statement is accurate?
• Which factor is commonly used in evaluating best-value proposals, alongside price?
• Which item is NOT part of an Integrated Baseline Review (IBR)?
• Where can a synopsis of proposed contract actions be published as part of dissemination?
• Which entity's rules and regulations apply to CAS?
• The Buy American statute (Act) restricts the purchase of supplies that are NOT domestic end products.
• A form of written approval signed by an authorized official that is required by statute or regulation as a prerequisite to taking certain contract actions is defined as
• Do Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) rules apply to negotiated contracts and subcontracts?
• Which entity is responsible for implementing OMB guidance on personal identity verification for contractors with access to facilities or information systems?
• Under the Buy American Act, a domestic end product is defined by manufacturing in the United States and the domestic cost of the components exceeding what percent?
• Which statement best describes the primary objective of discussions in a source selection?
• The Federal Supply Schedule program provides federal agencies which of the following?
• Which option is not one of the two types of Value-Engineering approaches?
• Which statement correctly describes blanket purchase agreements (BPAs)?
• Bundling is defined as consolidating two or more requirements into a single solicitation, likely to be unsuitable for award to a small business concern.
• Which of the following are included in the definition of 'contracts'?
• Regarding the relationship between a quotation and an offer, which statement is accurate?
• If a contractor has an approved purchasing system, what action is required for subcontracts identified in the subcontracts clause of the contract?
• There are three types of indefinite-delivery contracts
• Under emergency action flexibility to support contingency operations, which action may be authorized?
• Under the Prohibition on Contracting for Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance, which activity is not prohibited?
• FAR Part 6, "Competition Requirements," applies to which of the following?
• Contract delivery or performance schedules may be expressed by
• Which statement correctly describes when a competition advocate's coordination is required?
• According to the FAR conventions at Subpart 1.1, each authority is delegable unless ________.
• A prebid conference is never used for which of the following?
• Which provision governs the price reasonableness determination for commercial items?
• A prebid conference is never used for which purpose?
• Unless otherwise provided, agencies shall use which contract type(s) for the acquisition of commercial items?
• A contract with a corporation shall be signed in which format?
• Which statement best describes the purpose of a blanket purchase agreement?
• Who is responsible for determining the amount of debts resulting from contractor failure to replace, repair, or correct supplies when fast payment procedures are used?
• Which term describes the communication with an offeror to eliminate minor irregularities in the proposal?
• The term describing information technology contracts delivered in increments that are interoperable is
• The Federal Supply Schedule program provides federal agencies a simplified process for which purpose?
• The contracting officer's certification can serve as approval of the justification for other than full and open competition for a proposed contract NOT exceeding
• The specific content of acquisition plans will vary, and are influenced primarily by which factors?
• The contract types are grouped into two broad categories:
• In a two-step bidding process, the initial stage is limited to which focus?
• Which statement best describes the contracting officer's role in simplified acquisitions?
• In the uniform contract format, which section is incorporated by reference rather than physically included in the contract?
• Which of the following is not true concerning project wage determinations?
• Supplemental agreements are used to
• Concerning micro-purchases, which method is the preferred means to purchase and pay for them?
• In the example, which contract has the earliest final delivery date?
• Which source provides a catalog of items and terms used by agencies to meet needs?
• Market research may indicate that bundling is necessary and justified if
• The least-preferred method of submitting ideas/concepts to the government is
• Which portion of the FAR outlines the uniform contract format?
• The following statement regarding suspension of work is true or false: government delay of work may be used as a justification for the contracting officer to order a suspension.
• Which of the following is a type of indefinite-delivery contract?
• Which statement is NOT true about state and local taxes on federal purchases and leases?
• When acquiring services, agencies must use performance-based acquisition methods to the maximum extent practicable, EXCEPT for which category?
• Which set contains product attributes included in the sustainability criteria for new contract actions?
• A latent defect is a defect that
• During a disaster or emergency response, preference is given to local businesses.
• Agencies are required to use the results of market research to determine
• A system whereby the contracting officer receives authorization from a fiscal and accounting officer to obligate funds on purchase documents against a specified lump sum of funds reserved for a specified time rather than obtaining individual obligation authority on each purchase document is known as
• The Federal Supply Schedule program provides federal agencies with a simplified process for obtaining commonly used commercial supplies and services at prices associated with volume buying. It is directed and managed by the
• Concerning customary progress payments, what is the rate?
• A negotiated contract is awarded after which type of bidding procedure?
• A contracting officer's decision not to set aside an acquisition for HUBZone small business or service-disabled veteran-owned small business concerns when it is at or below the simplified acquisition threshold is not subject to review under FAR 19.4.
• Which statement best describes the use of advance agreements?
• What is the dollar threshold for public announcement of contract awards?
• In simplified acquisitions, which practice reflects the involvement of small business?
• After GAO's written protest notice, an agency must notify:
• The Economy Act authorizes agencies to enter into agreements to obtain supplies or services from another agency.
• When cancelling a purchase order, if the contractor accepts the cancellation and does not claim costs incurred due to beginning performance, which action is required?
• Unilateral modifications are NOT used to do which of the following?
• Which statement best describes the appropriate handling when commercial items could meet the need?
• Service contracts valued in excess of which amount must contain mandatory provisions regarding minimum wage and fringe benefits, safe and sanitary working conditions, notification to employees of the minimum allowable compensation, and equivalent federal employee classifications and wage rates?
• Which of the following are included in the definition of 'contracts'?
• If the contracting officer and the SBA area office cannot reach a resolution regarding a small business concern's ability to perform, who is empowered to make the final determination?
• Contractors are required to perform all government contracts, so far as is practicable, without using overtime, EXCEPT when
• Which statement best describes the role of a contract auditor?
• During an Integrated Baseline Review, which element is evaluated to ensure coordination of technical, schedule, and cost baselines?
• If defective pricing is discovered after award, the government is entitled to what?
• A transportation provider who offers service to the general public for compensation is best described as a…
• How does the government relieve contractors of liability for loss or damage to government property after acceptance or due to defects?
• In an interagency reimbursement scenario, which statute governs the process?
• Which contract has a final delivery date of 40 days?
• Under cost or pricing data rules for subcontracts, certified data are required for subcontracts that are the lower of either 15 million dollars or valued at more than both the pertinent cost or pricing threshold and more than 10 percent of the prime contract price.
• Unauthorized commitments are agreements that are NOT binding solely because
• Which statement about warranties in federal government contracts is correct?
• To avoid negotiations for short extensions on recurring service contracts, an option clause may provide continued performance for up to how long?
• Federal agencies shall advance sustainable acquisition by ensuring that what percentage of new contract actions for the supply of products and for the acquisition of services (including construction) require that the products are energy-efficient, water-efficient, bio-based, environmentally preferable, non-ozone depleting, or made with recovered materials?
• Which of the following statements about awards resulting from an invitation for bids is NOT true?
• What is the minimum response time for receipt of bids or proposals for noncommercial item solicitations?
• Under what condition must agencies implement OMB guidance for personal identity verification?
• A blanket purchase agreement (BPA) may be established with how many suppliers?
• If a requirement has been accepted by the SBA under the 8(a) Program, it must remain in the 8(a) Program unless
• An administrative change's effective date is the issue date.
• Which system is used to post requirements, obtain quotes, and issue orders electronically?
• Subject to the fiscal regulations of the agencies and applicable interagency agreements, the requesting agency shall reimburse the servicing agency for rendered contract administration and audit services in accordance with the
• The following are examples of types of risk for the acquisition of information technology EXCEPT
• Which statement is true about the timing of negotiating advance agreements?
• Kickbacks are payments or things of value provided to which groups in relation to a contract?
• Which statement best describes the requirement to check SAM for delinquent debt when using the Governmentwide Commercial Purchase Card?
• Which is an acceptable method for disseminating information on proposed contract actions?
• To the maximum extent practicable, acquisition officials should state all the following requirements with respect to an acquisition of supplies or services, with the exception of
• What is the typical action a contracting officer should take when handling a protest at the agency level?
• Routine information technology services are exempt from the definition of advisory or assistance services unless what?
• Which statement about market research in relation to bundling decisions is correct?
• How often are statutory acquisition-related dollar thresholds in the FAR adjusted for inflation?
• Regarding the use of government sources by contractors, which statement is true?
• Under electronic bidding, which statement is true?
• Who can authorize continued performance in the face of a protest after award?
• The formal term for proposals submitted to the government without a formal solicitation is
• Which statement about warranties in federal procurement is correct?
• Which pairing of procurement methods is required for construction contracts and architect-engineer services?
• Contracting officers below the level of __________ shall be selected and appointed.
• What is the primary purpose of the Federal Supply Schedule program?
• What is the heart of a settlement for a contract terminated for convenience?
• Which contract types may be used with sealed bidding procedures?
• When using the Governmentwide Commercial Purchase Card as a method of payment, contracting officers need to verify a contractor's delinquent debt status in the SAM database when those purchases are
• In the example, which contract is delivered in 60 days and has a DO rating?
• Why are contingent fees for soliciting government contracts contrary to public policy?
• Which statement correctly describes descriptive literature requirements?
• Who may request or allow proposal revisions to clarify and document understandings reached during negotiations?
• In response to a widely-publicized solicitation for a noncommercial item, a contracting officer only received one responsible offer. The offer is a firm-fixed amount for $1,000,000, which was the same price for a similar item recently purchased by another agency under a contract that resulted from adequate price competition. Which of the following is correct?
• Under what condition may the head of the agency waive CAS applicability for a contract?
• Which statute establishes prevailing wage requirements for construction projects?
• In protest actions not based on solicitation improprieties, within what time frame must the protest be filed after the protest basis is known?
• Intellectual property and software is defined as government property.
• Which statement about the Service Contract Act of 1965 is true?
• Concerning the use of government sources by contractors, which statement is correct?
• SAM is used as the primary source of vendor information for which type of acquisitions?
• Final indirect cost rates are based on which sources?
• Effective date means: For a solicitation amendment, change order, or administrative change, it is the
• Which of the following is NOT a valid reason to reject a bid?
• Which member of the acquisition team is responsible for determining the appropriate NAICS code and related small business size standard?
• In the uniform contract format, which section is incorporated by reference rather than physically included?
• Which of the following is NOT a statutory exemption to contracts for Materials, Supplies, Articles, and Equipment Exceeding $15,000 under the Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act?
• A contract auditor is responsible for
• Who is responsible for action when an imperative sentence in the FAR directs it, unless another party is named?
• A contractor is awarded four separate contracts on the same day. Which order of priority is correct for the final delivery dates and ratings?
• Which of the following is a commercial item?
• Contracts to acquire information technology systems in successive interoperable increments are known as
• Under what conditions is the Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) source selection method used?
• Normally testing and approval is appropriate in contracts for
• This act provides that contracts in excess $2,000 to which the United States is a party for construction, alteration, or repair of public buildings within the U.S. shall contain a clause that no laborer shall receive less than the prevailing wage rates as determined by the Secretary of Labor.
• Unpriced purchase orders may be used to acquire which of the following?
• Letter contracts are typically used to accomplish which goal?
• Does a $75,000 claim resulting from a reduction of $350,000 and an increase of $275,000 require certification?
• Which statement correctly describes how final indirect cost rates are established?
• In sealed bidding contracts, what does the term economic price adjustment refer to?
• Regarding electronic bids, which statement is correct?
• The contracting officer may use competitive proposals in lieu of sealed bids if
• Concerning RFIs, which statement is true?
• What is acceptable evidence to establish the time of receipt at a government installation?
• Which statement best describes the purpose of the System for Award Management in federal contracting?
• A certificate of current cost or pricing data does not constitute a representation as to the accuracy of the contractor's judgement on the estimate of future costs or projections.
• Within what timeframe may previously conducted market research be used before the award of a task or delivery order?
• Advance agreements must be incorporated into which contracts?
• For manufactured noncommercial end products, the test to determine the country of origin under the Buy American statute (Act) is a two-part test to define a domestic end product that is manufactured in the United States and the domestic cost of the components exceeds 55 percent.
• Performance-based acquisition methods are required for services to the maximum extent practicable with one exception. Which category is the exception?
• Which mechanism allows the government to relieve contractors of liability for losses to government property after acceptance?
• Contractors must retain all records pertaining to a government contract for a minimum of
• A qualification requirement is a government requirement for
• The process of examining and evaluating a proposed price without evaluating its separate cost elements and proposed profit is called?
• Which term describes a cost-reimbursement contract that uses a formula to adjust the fee based on cost performance?
• Which contracts commonly require performance and payment bonds to protect the government's interests?
• In the FAR reference 52.203-7 Anti-Kickback Procedures, what does the '2' in '203' refer to?
• A personal services contract is characterized by which core feature?
• A contract that provides for upward and downward revision of the stated contract price upon the occurence of specified contingencies is referred to as a
• When an imperative sentence directs action in the FAR, who is responsible for the action unless another party is expressly cited?
• Which statute authorizes interagency purchases?
• Assisting the contractor in management of its subcontractors is a normal function of a contract administration office.
• In conducting production surveillance, CAO personnel are prohibited from using contractor production control or data management systems.
• What action should the contracting officer take regarding protests?
• Performance-based payments shall be used only when which conditions exist?
• Cost Accounting Standards apply to commercial acquisitions only if the contract provides for an economic price adjustment based on actual cost incurred.
• Which agency handles questions about SAFETY Act protections for technology?
• When Federal Prison Industries and AbilityOne Program participating agencies produce identical services, which source has first priority in procurement?
• The two elements used to define a domestic end product under the Buy American Act are the manufacturing location and what else?
• The names and addresses of all suspended contractors may be found at
• A cost-reimbursement contract that provides for an initially negotiated fee to be adjusted later by a formula based on the relationship of total allowable costs to total target costs is known as a
• Which statement best describes delegation of authority under FAR Subpart 1.1?
• Bundling refers to consolidating two or more requirements for supplies or services into a single contract that is likely to be unsuitable for award to a small business concern.
• A contract terminated for convenience should be permitted to run to completion when the price of the undelivered balance of the contract is less than which amount?
• When protesting a solicitation impropriety, the protest must be filed before which event?
• What term describes money, fee, or thing of value provided to influence improperly obtaining or rewarding favorable treatment in connection with a government contract?
• Micro-purchases may be awarded without soliciting competitive quotations if
• Performance and payment bonds are required or may be required for which contracts?
• A proposal may be written by written notice at anytime before an award.
• Unauthorized commitments are agreements that are NOT binding solely because
• What is the maximum dollar value for simplified acquisition procedures for the acquisition of commercial items?
• The Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards statute (Act) requires which of the following?
• Change orders issued under the Changes clause are documented on which form?
• In the scenario of equal low bids, which category of bidders is given the highest priority for award?
• Cost Accounting Standards do not apply to contracts and subcontracts for commercial acquisitions unless the contract provides for an economic price adjustment based on actual cost incurred.
• In a two-step bidding process, the first step focuses on what?
• A cost is considered reasonable if:
• The Freedom of Information Act provides that information is to be made available to the public upon request by providing a copy of a reasonably described record.
• A cash fund of a fixed amount established by an advance of funds, without charge to an appropriation, from an agency finance or disbursing officer to a duly appointed cashier, for disbursement as needed from time to time in making payment in cash for relatively small purchases is called
• Which agency resolves questions on whether a technology qualifies for SAFETY Act protections?
• The contracting officer may waive the requirements for descriptive literature. Under what condition?
• Regarding quotations, which statement is correct?
• Protests regarding contract actions may be filed with which venues?