CPCM Contract Performance and Administration 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which document is the primary tool a Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) uses to monitor contractor performance?
- Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) (Correct answer)
- Performance Work Statement (PWS)
- Statement of Objectives (SOO)
- Earned Value Management report
Correct answer: Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP)
The QASP defines how the COR will inspect, evaluate, and document contractor performance against the standards in the contract.
Question 2: Earned Value Management (EVM) integrates which three project baselines?
- Scope, time, and quality
- Cost, schedule, and technical performance (Correct answer)
- Risk, cost, and communication
- Scope, budget, and personnel
Correct answer: Cost, schedule, and technical performance
EVM measures project health by comparing planned value (schedule), earned value (work accomplished), and actual cost to detect variances early.
Question 3: A Schedule Performance Index (SPI) of 0.85 indicates the project is:
- Ahead of schedule
- On schedule
- Behind schedule (Correct answer)
- Over budget
Correct answer: Behind schedule
An SPI below 1.0 means the project is accomplishing less work than planned — an SPI of 0.85 means only 85% of scheduled work has been completed.
Question 4: Which type of invoice review ensures that billed costs are allowable, allocable, and reasonable?
- Technical review
- Cost voucher audit (Correct answer)
- Receiving report review
- Performance assessment review
Correct answer: Cost voucher audit
A cost voucher audit verifies that invoiced costs comply with FAR cost principles — allowable, allocable, and reasonable — before payment is authorized.
Question 5: Under FAR, the government must pay a proper invoice within how many days to avoid late payment interest?
- 14 days
- 21 days
- 30 days (Correct answer)
- 45 days
Correct answer: 30 days
The Prompt Payment Act requires federal agencies to pay proper invoices within 30 days or face interest penalties under the Treasury rate.
Question 6: Which action best describes a 'constructive change' to a government contract?
- A formal written modification issued by the contracting officer
- Government conduct that effectively changes contract requirements without a formal modification (Correct answer)
- A contractor-initiated engineering change proposal
- A bilateral agreement to reduce the contract scope
Correct answer: Government conduct that effectively changes contract requirements without a formal modification
A constructive change occurs when government actions or inactions — such as overly strict inspection or withholding GFE — informally increase the contractor's work without a written change order.
CPCM Contract Performance and Administration 1
Which document is the primary tool a Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) uses to monitor contractor performance?