CME Project Management & Public Works Planning 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A municipality wants to prioritize capital projects when funding is limited. Which tool best supports a systematic, data-driven prioritization process?
- Gantt chart
- Multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) matrix (Correct answer)
- Organizational breakdown structure (OBS)
- Monte Carlo simulation
Correct answer: Multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) matrix
MCDA matrices allow municipalities to score and rank projects against weighted criteria such as safety, cost, community impact, and regulatory compliance.
Question 2: Under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which document is required for federal actions that significantly affect the quality of the human environment?
- Environmental Assessment (EA)
- Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) (Correct answer)
- Categorical Exclusion (CE)
- Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)
Correct answer: Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
An EIS is required when a federal action is determined to have significant environmental impacts, providing a full analysis of alternatives and mitigation measures.
Question 3: What does the 'triple constraint' in project management refer to?
- Quality, safety, and environmental compliance
- Scope, schedule, and cost (Correct answer)
- Design, construction, and operations
- Public input, regulatory approval, and funding
Correct answer: Scope, schedule, and cost
The triple constraint (also called the iron triangle) defines the three competing project constraints of scope, schedule, and cost that a project manager must balance.
Question 4: A public agency issues a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) before a Request for Proposals (RFP). What is the primary purpose of this two-step process?
- To comply with Davis-Bacon prevailing wage requirements
- To prequalify firms and reduce the pool to the most capable respondents (Correct answer)
- To satisfy public participation requirements under NEPA
- To lock in a guaranteed maximum price early in the project
Correct answer: To prequalify firms and reduce the pool to the most capable respondents
An RFQ shortlists qualified firms before issuing the detailed RFP, saving agency and proposer resources and ensuring only capable teams compete.
Question 5: Which procurement method requires a municipality to award a construction contract to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder?
- Best Value procurement
- Qualifications-Based Selection (QBS)
- Sealed competitive bidding (Invitation for Bids) (Correct answer)
- Sole-source negotiation
Correct answer: Sealed competitive bidding (Invitation for Bids)
Sealed competitive bidding (IFB) legally obligates public agencies to award to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder to ensure competitive pricing.
Question 6: A project risk register is BEST described as:
- A financial document tracking change order costs
- A living document cataloging identified risks, their probability, impact, and response strategies (Correct answer)
- A legal record of contractor insurance certificates
- A schedule showing milestone completion dates
Correct answer: A living document cataloging identified risks, their probability, impact, and response strategies
A risk register is an active project management tool that documents identified risks along with their likelihood, potential impact, and planned mitigation or response actions.
Question 7: When a public works project requires acquisition of private land, the agency must follow which federal law to ensure fair compensation?
- The Clean Water Act
- The Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act (Correct answer)
- The National Historic Preservation Act
- The Americans with Disabilities Act
Correct answer: The Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act
The Uniform Act (URA) establishes standards for appraising, acquiring, and compensating property owners and displaced persons when federal funds are involved.
CME Project Management & Public Works Planning 3
A municipality wants to prioritize capital projects when funding is limited.
Which tool best supports a systematic, data-driven prioritization process?