COR Communication & Ethics 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A COR learns that a fellow government employee is sharing source selection information with a contractor. The COR should:
- Confront the employee directly and warn them to stop
- Report the suspected violation to the contracting officer and/or the Inspector General (Correct answer)
- Document the behavior but take no immediate action
- Inform the contractor that such information cannot be accepted
Correct answer: Report the suspected violation to the contracting officer and/or the Inspector General
Suspected violations of procurement integrity must be reported to the contracting officer and potentially the IG or ethics office — not handled informally.
Question 2: Which situation represents an organizational conflict of interest (OCI) that a COR must disclose?
- The COR's agency previously purchased from the same contractor
- The COR's spouse works for a subcontractor on the monitored contract (Correct answer)
- The COR attended a public industry day hosted by the contractor
- The COR used the contractor's publicly available training materials
Correct answer: The COR's spouse works for a subcontractor on the monitored contract
A COR's spouse employed by a subcontractor on the monitored contract is a direct financial interest creating a reportable OCI.
Question 3: When preparing a Contractor Performance Assessment Report (CPAR), a COR should base ratings PRIMARILY on:
- The contractor's relationship and responsiveness to government personnel
- Documented observations, inspections, and factual evidence from the contract period (Correct answer)
- The contractor's past performance history on other contracts
- The project manager's verbal assessment of overall satisfaction
Correct answer: Documented observations, inspections, and factual evidence from the contract period
CPARs must be based on documented, factual evidence gathered during the rating period — not impressions, relationships, or past performance on other awards.
Question 4: A contractor requests a meeting with the COR to discuss a potential equitable adjustment. The COR should:
- Meet with the contractor and negotiate a resolution to avoid a formal claim
- Decline the meeting until the contractor submits a written request to the CO
- Attend the meeting but make clear the CO must be involved in any decision (Correct answer)
- Approve a preliminary adjustment to maintain good contractor relations
Correct answer: Attend the meeting but make clear the CO must be involved in any decision
CORs may listen and gather information in such meetings but must make clear that any equitable adjustment requires contracting officer involvement.
Question 5: The COR notices a contractor employee is working on a government project using unauthorized personal equipment. The BEST course of action is to:
- Allow it temporarily if no alternative equipment is available
- Document and report the observation to the contracting officer immediately (Correct answer)
- Verbally instruct the contractor employee to stop and consider the matter resolved
- Issue a cure notice to the contractor on behalf of the government
Correct answer: Document and report the observation to the contracting officer immediately
Security and compliance deviations must be documented and escalated to the CO — CORs do not issue cure notices or make binding determinations.
Question 6: Federal ethics rules prohibit a COR from seeking employment with a contractor while:
- Assigned as a COR on any government contract
- Personally and substantially involved in a procurement affecting that contractor (Correct answer)
- Within two years of the contract's award date
- The contractor has an active proposal under evaluation
Correct answer: Personally and substantially involved in a procurement affecting that contractor
Post-employment restrictions apply when a federal employee has been personally and substantially involved in a matter involving the prospective employer.
Question 7: A contractor submits a progress report that the COR suspects contains inflated performance metrics. What is the appropriate response?
- Accept the report but note the suspicion in a personal file
- Reject the report and draft a corrective action plan
- Request supporting documentation and coordinate findings with the contracting officer (Correct answer)
- Forward the report to audit without notifying the contractor
Correct answer: Request supporting documentation and coordinate findings with the contracting officer
The COR should request evidence to substantiate the metrics and involve the CO before any formal action, ensuring due process and proper authority.
COR Communication & Ethics 3
A COR learns that a fellow government employee is sharing source selection information with a contractor.
The COR should: