CFCM Contract Planning & Formation 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which FAR part governs the use of Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contracts administered by GSA?
- FAR Part 8 (Correct answer)
- FAR Part 12
- FAR Part 13
- FAR Part 16
Correct answer: FAR Part 8
FAR Part 8 (Required Sources of Supplies and Services) governs ordering from GSA Federal Supply Schedules and Multiple Award Schedule contracts.
Question 2: A Synopsis waiver is permitted under FAR 5.202 when the contracting officer determines that:
- The acquisition exceeds $150,000
- Advance notice would compromise national security (Correct answer)
- The requirement is below the micro-purchase threshold only
- The contractor has already been identified
Correct answer: Advance notice would compromise national security
FAR 5.202(a)(1) permits waiving the synopsis requirement when the contracting officer determines that publicizing would compromise national security.
Question 3: When evaluating past performance in a source selection, a contractor with no relevant past performance record should typically be rated as:
- Unacceptable, due to lack of demonstrated capability
- Unknown risk, neither favored nor unfavored (Correct answer)
- Neutral, treated the same as a marginal rating
- Acceptable, assuming the contractor can perform
Correct answer: Unknown risk, neither favored nor unfavored
FAR 15.305(a)(2)(iv) states that offerors with no relevant past performance record shall be evaluated as an unknown risk, neither favorably nor unfavorably.
Question 4: The Procurement Integrity Act (PIA) prohibits a former agency official who served as a 'procurement official' from receiving compensation from a contractor for one year if:
- The official worked on any federal contract during their career
- The official participated personally and substantially in a contract over $10 million (Correct answer)
- The contractor submitted any proposal while the official was employed
- The official had any supervisory role over contracting personnel
Correct answer: The official participated personally and substantially in a contract over $10 million
41 U.S.C. §2104 (PIA) bars a procurement official who personally and substantially participated in a contract or subcontract exceeding $10 million from receiving compensation from that contractor for one year after leaving government.
Question 5: Under FAR 16.505, when placing task orders under a multiple award IDIQ contract, the ordering contracting officer must provide each awardee a:
- Full and open competition opportunity regardless of order value
- Fair opportunity to be considered for each order above $3,500 (Correct answer)
- Right to protest order awards to the GAO regardless of value
- Minimum guaranteed task order value equal to their share of the contract
Correct answer: Fair opportunity to be considered for each order above $3,500
FAR 16.505(b)(1) requires that each awardee on a multiple award contract receive a fair opportunity to be considered for task or delivery orders exceeding $3,500.
Question 6: A Performance Work Statement (PWS) differs from a Statement of Work (SOW) primarily because a PWS:
- Specifies how the contractor must perform each task in detail
- Describes outcomes and performance standards rather than methods (Correct answer)
- Is only used for commercial item acquisitions under FAR Part 12
- Requires mandatory use of government-furnished equipment
Correct answer: Describes outcomes and performance standards rather than methods
A PWS focuses on measurable outcomes, performance standards, and quality levels, allowing contractors flexibility in how they accomplish the work, unlike a SOW which specifies methods.
Question 7: Which of the following is a characteristic unique to Cost-Plus-Award-Fee (CPAF) contracts compared to other cost-reimbursement types?
- The fee amount is fixed at contract award and cannot change
- The award fee determination by the government is not subject to the Disputes clause (Correct answer)
- The contractor bears cost risk above the estimated cost
- Award fee ratings must be reviewed by GAO upon contractor request
Correct answer: The award fee determination by the government is not subject to the Disputes clause
FAR 16.405-2 states that award fee determinations are made unilaterally by the government and are not subject to the Disputes clause, making them final and not appealable.
CFCM Contract Planning & Formation 5
Which FAR part governs the use of Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contracts administered by GSA?