CRA Research Contracts and Agreements 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A federal agency issues a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) seeking innovative research proposals. Which acquisition instrument is MOST appropriate for the resulting award?
- Cooperative agreement
- Procurement contract (Correct answer)
- Grant
- Memorandum of understanding
Correct answer: Procurement contract
BAAs result in procurement contracts because the government is acquiring research services of direct benefit to itself.
Question 2: Under FAR 52.227-11, what must a contractor do when electing to retain title to a subject invention made under a federal contract?
- File a patent application within 12 months of disclosure (Correct answer)
- Disclose the invention to the agency within 2 years
- File a patent application within 24 months of disclosure
- License the invention to the government exclusively
Correct answer: File a patent application within 12 months of disclosure
FAR 52.227-11 (Patent Rights – Ownership by Contractor) requires a patent application to be filed within 12 months of the invention disclosure.
Question 3: Which clause is REQUIRED in all federal cost-reimbursement research contracts to ensure the government can audit contractor financial records?
- FAR 52.215-2, Audit and Records – Negotiation (Correct answer)
- FAR 52.232-20, Limitation of Cost
- FAR 52.249-6, Termination (Cost-Reimbursement)
- FAR 52.203-13, Contractor Code of Business Ethics
Correct answer: FAR 52.215-2, Audit and Records – Negotiation
FAR 52.215-2 requires contractors to maintain and provide access to financial records for audit purposes.
Question 4: A subcontractor on a federally funded research project discovers a conflict of interest involving the PI. Under 2 CFR 200.112, who bears primary responsibility for managing this conflict?
- The federal awarding agency
- The prime recipient institution (Correct answer)
- The subcontractor institution
- The PI's department chair
Correct answer: The prime recipient institution
The prime recipient (pass-through entity) is responsible for ensuring subrecipients comply with conflict of interest requirements under 2 CFR 200.112.
Question 5: A research contract includes a Limitation of Funds clause. The contractor determines that 75% of the funds have been spent with only 50% of the work complete. What is the contractor's FIRST required action?
- Stop all work immediately
- Notify the contracting officer in writing (Correct answer)
- Request a contract modification
- Reallocate funds from other budget categories
Correct answer: Notify the contracting officer in writing
The Limitation of Funds clause requires contractors to notify the contracting officer in writing when they anticipate funding will be exhausted before work is complete.
Question 6: Which type of contract performance standard holds the contractor accountable only for best efforts rather than guaranteed deliverables?
- Fixed-price research and development contract
- Cost-plus-fixed-fee (CPFF) term contract (Correct answer)
- Firm-fixed-price level-of-effort contract
- Time-and-materials contract
Correct answer: Cost-plus-fixed-fee (CPFF) term contract
A CPFF term contract obligates the contractor to devote a specified level of effort over a period, without guaranteeing specific outcomes.
Question 7: An institution receives a federal grant and wishes to subcontract a significant portion of the work to a foreign university. Under 2 CFR 200, what requirement applies?
- Foreign subcontracts are prohibited without congressional approval
- The institution must obtain prior written approval from the federal agency (Correct answer)
- Foreign subcontracts require OFAC screening only
- No additional requirements apply beyond standard subrecipient monitoring
Correct answer: The institution must obtain prior written approval from the federal agency
Contracting with foreign entities typically requires prior approval from the federal awarding agency under 2 CFR 200.308.
CRA Research Contracts and Agreements 2
A federal agency issues a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) seeking innovative research proposals.
Which acquisition instrument is MOST appropriate for the resulting award?