Government Procurement Certification Contract Administration 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary function of the Contract Disputes Act of 1978 in government contracting?
- It establishes small business set-aside thresholds
- It provides procedures for resolving contractor claims and appeals against the government (Correct answer)
- It sets wage determination standards for service contracts
- It authorizes use of cost-plus-fixed-fee contracts
Correct answer: It provides procedures for resolving contractor claims and appeals against the government
The Contract Disputes Act establishes procedures for resolving disputes, including contractor claims, Contracting Officer Final Decisions, and appeals to Boards of Contract Appeals or the Court of Federal Claims.
Question 2: A contractor submits a claim exceeding $100,000. What additional requirement applies under the Contract Disputes Act?
- The claim must be submitted in metric units
- The claim must be certified by a contractor official authorized to bind the company (Correct answer)
- A performance bond must be posted
- The claim must be filed in federal district court
Correct answer: The claim must be certified by a contractor official authorized to bind the company
Claims exceeding $100,000 must include a certification by a contractor official attesting to good faith and accuracy of the claim, under penalty of False Claims Act liability.
Question 3: Which document does the Contracting Officer issue to formally resolve a contractor claim under the Contract Disputes Act?
- Modification
- Contracting Officer's Final Decision (COFD) (Correct answer)
- Show-Cause Notice
- Request for Equitable Adjustment
Correct answer: Contracting Officer's Final Decision (COFD)
The Contracting Officer's Final Decision (COFD) is the formal written government decision on a contractor claim, triggering the contractor's appeal rights.
Question 4: How many days does a contractor generally have to appeal a Contracting Officer's Final Decision to a Board of Contract Appeals?
- 30 days
- 60 days
- 90 days (Correct answer)
- 120 days
Correct answer: 90 days
Under the Contract Disputes Act, a contractor has 90 days from receipt of a COFD to file an appeal with the appropriate Board of Contract Appeals.
Question 5: What is the purpose of a 'Subcontracting Plan' required under FAR Part 19 for certain large business contractors?
- To document the contractor's labor hours
- To establish goals for awarding subcontracts to small businesses and disadvantaged businesses (Correct answer)
- To outline the contractor's invoicing schedule
- To identify foreign-manufactured components
Correct answer: To establish goals for awarding subcontracts to small businesses and disadvantaged businesses
Subcontracting plans establish percentage goals and outreach commitments ensuring large contractors maximize opportunities for small and disadvantaged business subcontractors.
Question 6: Which type of government property accountability document tracks property in a contractor's possession under a government contract?
- SF-1449
- DD Form 1149 / Property Book
- Government Property Management System (GPMS) record (Correct answer)
- SF-30
Correct answer: Government Property Management System (GPMS) record
A Government Property Management System (GPMS) record tracks government-furnished or contractor-acquired property, ensuring accountability throughout the contract lifecycle.
Question 7: What is 'Value Engineering' in the context of contract administration?
- A cost audit technique used by DCAA
- A contractor-proposed change that reduces cost while maintaining essential function, allowing the contractor to share in savings (Correct answer)
- A mandatory re-scoping of contract requirements
- An agency's method of selecting lowest-price proposals
Correct answer: A contractor-proposed change that reduces cost while maintaining essential function, allowing the contractor to share in savings
Value Engineering Change Proposals (VECPs) allow contractors to propose cost-saving alternatives and share a percentage of realized savings with the government.
Government Procurement Certification Contract Administration 3
What is the primary function of the Contract Disputes Act of 1978 in government contracting?