CFCM Federal Acquisition Regulations & Legal Framework 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act (FASA), what is the current Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT)?
- $100,000
- $150,000 (Correct answer)
- $250,000
- $500,000
Correct answer: $150,000
The SAT is $150,000 per FAR 2.101, which determines when many procurement requirements and socioeconomic programs apply.
Question 2: A GAO bid protest must generally be filed within how many calendar days after the basis of protest is known or should have been known?
- 10 days (Correct answer)
- 21 days
- 30 days
- 45 days
Correct answer: 10 days
4 C.F.R. § 21.2 requires GAO bid protests to be filed within 10 calendar days after the protester knew or should have known of the protest basis.
Question 3: FAR 9.104-1 lists the standards a prospective contractor must meet to be found responsible. Which of the following is NOT a responsibility standard?
- Adequate financial resources
- A satisfactory record of past performance
- Lowest price among all offerors (Correct answer)
- Necessary organization and technical skills
Correct answer: Lowest price among all offerors
Responsibility standards under FAR 9.104-1 assess capability and integrity, not whether an offeror submitted the lowest price.
Question 4: Which doctrine allows the government to recover costs when a contractor submits false claims under federal contracts?
- Doctrine of Substantial Performance
- False Claims Act (31 U.S.C. § 3729) (Correct answer)
- Limitation of Funds clause
- Christian doctrine
Correct answer: False Claims Act (31 U.S.C. § 3729)
The False Claims Act imposes civil penalties and treble damages on those who knowingly submit false claims for payment to the government.
Question 5: The Christian doctrine, established in G.L. Christian and Associates v. United States, holds that:
- Contractors may enforce oral modifications made by a CO
- Mandatory contract clauses required by law are incorporated by operation of law even if omitted (Correct answer)
- Commercial item contracts are exempt from standard FAR clauses
- Subcontractors have direct privity with the government
Correct answer: Mandatory contract clauses required by law are incorporated by operation of law even if omitted
The Christian doctrine means that clauses required by statute or regulation are deemed part of the contract even if the drafter forgot to include them.
Question 6: Under FAR Part 43, which type of contract modification does NOT require the contractor's signature?
- Supplemental Agreement (bilateral modification)
- Change Order (unilateral modification) (Correct answer)
- Termination for Convenience
- Definitization of a Letter Contract
Correct answer: Change Order (unilateral modification)
A Change Order is a unilateral modification issued by the CO within the scope of the Changes clause and does not require contractor consent.
Question 7: FAR 15.306 describes exchanges with offerors during competitive negotiations. Which term refers to communications after evaluation that are intended to allow offerors to revise proposals?
- Clarifications
- Discussions (Negotiations) (Correct answer)
- Pre-award surveys
- Oral presentations
Correct answer: Discussions (Negotiations)
Discussions under FAR 15.306(d) are exchanges that allow offerors to revise proposals, unlike clarifications which are limited to ambiguity resolution.
CFCM Federal Acquisition Regulations & Legal Framework 4
Under the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act (FASA), what is the current Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT)?