FCC Post-Award Administration 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the purpose of a contract surveillance plan in post-award administration?
- To determine the winning contractor during source selection
- To document how the government will monitor contractor performance against contract requirements (Correct answer)
- To authorize additional funding on a contract
- To establish the contract's period of performance
Correct answer: To document how the government will monitor contractor performance against contract requirements
A contract surveillance plan defines the methods, frequency, and responsibilities for monitoring contractor performance after award.
Question 2: Under FAR 52.249-8, a contractor is in default when it fails to deliver supplies or perform services within the time specified. How many days' notice must the government generally provide before terminating for default?
- No notice is required; termination is immediate
- 10 days written notice to cure (Correct answer)
- 30 days written notice
- 60 days written notice
Correct answer: 10 days written notice to cure
FAR 52.249-8 requires the government to give a contractor 10 days' written notice to cure a failure before terminating for default.
Question 3: A Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) discovers the contractor is using an unauthorized subcontractor. What should the COR do first?
- Issue a stop-work order immediately
- Document the finding and notify the contracting officer (Correct answer)
- Approve the subcontractor verbally to avoid delays
- Terminate the task order
Correct answer: Document the finding and notify the contracting officer
The COR lacks authority to take contractual action and must immediately document findings and refer them to the contracting officer for action.
Question 4: Which type of contract modification requires the signature of both the government and the contractor?
- Unilateral modification
- Bilateral modification (Correct answer)
- Administrative modification
- Definitization order
Correct answer: Bilateral modification
A bilateral modification (supplemental agreement) requires mutual consent and signatures from both the government and the contractor.
Question 5: Under DCAA audit requirements, which cost principle under FAR 31.201-2 must be met for a cost to be allowable?
- The cost must be the lowest available in the market
- The cost must be reasonable, allocable, and compliant with applicable standards (Correct answer)
- The cost must be approved in advance by the contracting officer
- The cost must be incurred by a small business subcontractor
Correct answer: The cost must be reasonable, allocable, and compliant with applicable standards
FAR 31.201-2 requires that allowable costs be reasonable, allocable to the contract, and compliant with GAAP and any applicable CAS standards.
Question 6: What is a 'stop-work order' used for in contract administration?
- To permanently cancel a contract
- To temporarily suspend contractor work for up to 90 days when it is in the government's interest (Correct answer)
- To reduce the contract price due to poor performance
- To transfer work to a different contractor
Correct answer: To temporarily suspend contractor work for up to 90 days when it is in the government's interest
A stop-work order under FAR 52.242-15 directs the contractor to halt all or part of the work for up to 90 days pending a government decision.
Question 7: When evaluating contractor performance at contract completion, which federal system is used to record past performance assessments for future source selections?
- System for Award Management (SAM)
- Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) (Correct answer)
- Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS)
- Electronic Subcontracting Reporting System (eSRS)
Correct answer: Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS)
CPARS is the official federal system where contracting officers document contractor performance ratings used in future past-performance evaluations.
FCC Post-Award Administration 3
What is the purpose of a contract surveillance plan in post-award administration?