FCC Proposal Volume & Evaluation Criteria 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under FAR Part 15, which evaluation factor must be listed as significantly more important than all others when the government designates it as the primary award criterion?
- Price
- Technical approach
- Past performance
- Whichever factor the solicitation designates as most important (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Whichever factor the solicitation designates as most important
FAR 15.304 requires the solicitation to state the relative importance of evaluation factors, and whichever factor is designated most important must be documented as such — there is no FAR mandate that price or any single factor always ranks highest.
Question 2: A contracting officer receives two proposals: Offeror A is rated 'Outstanding' technically at a higher price, and Offeror B is rated 'Acceptable' at a lower price. Which statement best describes the source selection decision?
- Award must go to Offeror B because lowest price is always controlling
- Award must go to Offeror A because technical merit outweighs price
- The SSA must document a best-value tradeoff analysis comparing the price premium to the technical benefits (Correct answer)
- The proposals must be re-evaluated using Lowest Price Technically Acceptable criteria
Correct answer: The SSA must document a best-value tradeoff analysis comparing the price premium to the technical benefits
Under FAR 15.101-1, the Source Selection Authority must document why any price premium for a higher-rated offeror is or is not worth the added value.
Question 3: What is the primary purpose of the 'Management Volume' in a government proposal?
- To detail the offeror's pricing methodology
- To describe how the offeror will organize, staff, and manage contract performance (Correct answer)
- To list past performance references and contract numbers
- To provide the offeror's financial statements
Correct answer: To describe how the offeror will organize, staff, and manage contract performance
The Management Volume demonstrates the offeror's organizational structure, key personnel qualifications, and management approach for executing the contract.
Question 4: When a solicitation states evaluation factors are listed 'in descending order of importance,' what does this mean for the proposal writer?
- All factors are weighted equally regardless of listing order
- The first factor listed carries the greatest weight in evaluation (Correct answer)
- The last factor listed is most important because it is the final consideration
- Descending order applies only to sub-factors, not primary factors
Correct answer: The first factor listed carries the greatest weight in evaluation
FAR 15.304(d) requires that factors listed in descending order of importance reflect that the first-listed factor has the greatest influence on award.
Question 5: Which volume is typically used to submit Past Performance Questionnaires (PPQs) and contractor performance reports?
- Technical Volume
- Price/Cost Volume
- Past Performance Volume (Correct answer)
- Management Volume
Correct answer: Past Performance Volume
The Past Performance Volume consolidates all references, PPQs, CPARS printouts, and narrative descriptions of relevant prior contracts.
Question 6: A solicitation requires a 'color-coded' adjectival rating system. Which rating typically indicates a proposal exceeds requirements with minimal risk?
- Acceptable (Green)
- Outstanding (Blue) (Correct answer)
- Marginal (Yellow)
- Unacceptable (Red)
Correct answer: Outstanding (Blue)
Under DoD and many civilian agency rating scales, 'Outstanding' (often coded Blue) means the proposal significantly exceeds requirements with very low risk of unsuccessful performance.
Question 7: What does 'Section L' of a solicitation govern?
- Contract clauses and conditions
- Instructions, conditions, and notices to offerors (Correct answer)
- Contract performance work statement
- Evaluation factors for award
Correct answer: Instructions, conditions, and notices to offerors
Section L provides offerors with specific instructions on how to prepare and submit their proposals, including volume structure and page limits.
FCC Proposal Volume & Evaluation Criteria 2
Under FAR Part 15, which evaluation factor must be listed as significantly more important than all others when the government designates it as the primary award criterion?