FAC Policy Analysis & Evaluation 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of a regulatory impact analysis (RIA) when a federal agency proposes a new acquisition regulation?
- To estimate the total number of new contracts the regulation will generate
- To assess the costs and benefits of the proposed rule on affected parties (Correct answer)
- To determine the agency's annual budget impact from regulatory staffing
- To identify which contractors will benefit most from the new rule
Correct answer: To assess the costs and benefits of the proposed rule on affected parties
An RIA systematically evaluates the anticipated costs and benefits of a proposed regulation to inform policymakers and the public.
Question 2: Under Executive Order 13563, federal agencies revising acquisition regulations must prioritize which analytical approach?
- Cost minimization without regard to benefits
- Retrospective review to identify outdated or ineffective rules (Correct answer)
- Forward-looking budget projections for new programs only
- Benchmarking against allied nation procurement rules
Correct answer: Retrospective review to identify outdated or ineffective rules
EO 13563 requires agencies to conduct retrospective reviews of existing rules to determine if they are outmoded, ineffective, or unnecessarily burdensome.
Question 3: A policy analyst is tasked with determining whether a new performance-based contracting policy improved quality outcomes. Which data source is MOST relevant?
- Contractor-submitted marketing materials
- Past performance information in CPARS (Correct answer)
- Number of contract modifications issued
- Agency spending totals by appropriation type
Correct answer: Past performance information in CPARS
CPARS (Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System) records quality ratings that directly reflect whether performance-based contracting goals were met.
Question 4: Which of the following is a key distinction between policy analysis and program evaluation in the federal acquisition context?
- Policy analysis is retrospective; program evaluation is prospective
- Policy analysis examines whether a program achieved its goals; program evaluation assesses alternative policy options
- Policy analysis assesses alternative options; program evaluation measures actual outcomes of implemented programs (Correct answer)
- They are interchangeable terms in federal acquisition management
Correct answer: Policy analysis assesses alternative options; program evaluation measures actual outcomes of implemented programs
Policy analysis typically examines options before a decision, while program evaluation measures outcomes after a policy or program has been implemented.
Question 5: When an agency's acquisition policy evaluation reveals that a rule is creating unintended administrative burdens on small businesses, which regulatory tool should the agency consider?
- Section 508 accommodation request
- Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (RFA) under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (Correct answer)
- Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) waiver process
- GAO bid protest moratorium
Correct answer: Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (RFA) under the Regulatory Flexibility Act
The Regulatory Flexibility Act requires agencies to analyze and minimize the impact of rules on small businesses through a Regulatory Flexibility Analysis.
Question 6: A contracting agency completes a logic model for its acquisition workforce training policy. What does the 'outcome' component of the logic model represent?
- The budget allocated to the training program
- The number of training courses offered per fiscal year
- The change in contracting officer competency and job performance (Correct answer)
- The list of vendors selected to deliver training
Correct answer: The change in contracting officer competency and job performance
In a logic model, outcomes represent the changes in behavior, knowledge, or performance that result from program activities and outputs.
Question 7: Which Office of Management and Budget (OMB) memorandum established the evidence-based policymaking framework that shapes how federal acquisition policies must be evaluated?
- OMB M-19-23 (Phase 1 Implementation of the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act) (Correct answer)
- OMB Circular A-11 (Preparation and Submission of Budget Estimates)
- OMB M-05-14 (E-Government Act Reporting)
- OMB Circular A-76 (Performance of Commercial Activities)
Correct answer: OMB M-19-23 (Phase 1 Implementation of the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act)
OMB M-19-23 implemented the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018, requiring agencies to build evaluation capacity and learning agendas.
FAC Policy Analysis & Evaluation 3
What is the primary purpose of a regulatory impact analysis (RIA) when a federal agency proposes a new acquisition regulation?