CFCM Federal Acquisition Regulations & Legal Framework 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under FAR 1.602-1, which official has the authority to enter into, administer, and terminate contracts on behalf of the government?
- Program Manager
- Contracting Officer (Correct answer)
- Contracting Officer's Representative
- Agency Head
Correct answer: Contracting Officer
Only Contracting Officers, appointed by warrant, have the legal authority to bind the government to a contract.
Question 2: FAR Part 9 addresses contractor qualifications. Which action must a Contracting Officer take before awarding a contract to a vendor listed on the SAM.gov exclusions?
- Obtain agency head approval
- Proceed if the contract is under the SAT
- Not award the contract (Correct answer)
- Verify the listing is current
Correct answer: Not award the contract
FAR 9.405 prohibits awarding contracts to debarred or suspended contractors listed on the SAM.gov exclusions without exception.
Question 3: The Competition in Contracting Act (CICA) of 1984 primarily requires agencies to:
- Use lowest-price technically acceptable source selection
- Obtain full and open competition when acquiring supplies and services (Correct answer)
- Conduct market research before every purchase
- Restrict competition to small businesses
Correct answer: Obtain full and open competition when acquiring supplies and services
CICA mandates full and open competition in federal procurements unless a specific exception applies.
Question 4: A contractor submits a claim exceeding $100,000 under the Contract Disputes Act. What certification requirement applies?
- The claim must be certified by a CPA
- The contractor must certify the claim is made in good faith and the amount is accurate (Correct answer)
- No certification is required for claims under $500,000
- The Contracting Officer must certify the claim is valid
Correct answer: The contractor must certify the claim is made in good faith and the amount is accurate
FAR 33.207 requires contractor certification for claims exceeding $100,000, attesting to good faith and accuracy.
Question 5: Which FAR part establishes the rules for socioeconomic programs including small business set-asides?
- FAR Part 12
- FAR Part 15
- FAR Part 19 (Correct answer)
- FAR Part 25
Correct answer: FAR Part 19
FAR Part 19 implements the Small Business Act and governs set-asides, certificates of competency, and small business programs.
Question 6: Under the Truth in Negotiations Act (TINA), certified cost or pricing data is required when a contract action exceeds:
- $150,000
- $750,000
- $2 million (Correct answer)
- $10 million
Correct answer: $2 million
TINA (10 U.S.C. § 3702) and FAR 15.403-4 require certified cost or pricing data for negotiated contracts exceeding $2 million.
Question 7: A Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) exceeds their designated authority and directs a contractor to perform additional work. The contractor performs the work. What is the likely legal outcome?
- The government is bound because the work benefited the agency
- The contractor may recover under quantum meruit
- The government is not bound and the contractor may not recover (Correct answer)
- The COR's actions ratify the change automatically
Correct answer: The government is not bound and the contractor may not recover
Under the doctrine of apparent authority, the government is not bound by unauthorized acts of government personnel; only a warranted CO can bind the government.
CFCM Federal Acquisition Regulations & Legal Framework 2
Under FAR 1.602-1, which official has the authority to enter into, administer, and terminate contracts on behalf of the government?