Government Procurement Certification Government Procurement Processes & Procedures 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In a sealed bid procurement, what happens if all bids received exceed the government's available funding?
- The CO must award to the lowest bidder and request supplemental funds
- The CO may cancel the IFB and re-solicit with a revised requirement (Correct answer)
- The CO negotiates with the lowest bidder to reduce price
- The CO automatically uses simplified acquisition procedures instead
Correct answer: The CO may cancel the IFB and re-solicit with a revised requirement
When all bids exceed available funds, the contracting officer may cancel the IFB; if the requirement still exists, the agency may re-solicit after revising the specification or available budget.
Question 2: What is the 'competitive range' in negotiated procurement?
- The price range within which all offerors must fall to receive award
- The group of most highly rated proposals with which the CO will conduct discussions (Correct answer)
- Offerors whose technical scores are within 10% of the highest score
- Proposals received within the solicitation's geographic boundaries
Correct answer: The group of most highly rated proposals with which the CO will conduct discussions
The competitive range comprises the most highly rated proposals determined to have a reasonable chance of being selected for award, with whom the CO will hold discussions.
Question 3: Which FAR clause requires contractors to flow down certain requirements to their subcontractors?
- FAR 52.219-8 (Utilization of Small Business Concerns) (Correct answer)
- FAR 52.232-1 (Payments)
- FAR 52.201-1 (Acquisition 360)
- FAR 52.225-1 (Buy American Act)
Correct answer: FAR 52.219-8 (Utilization of Small Business Concerns)
FAR 52.219-8 requires prime contractors to provide maximum practicable subcontracting opportunities to small businesses and flows down related obligations.
Question 4: What is a 'definitive contract' in the context of undefinitized contract actions?
- A contract awarded after sealed bidding
- A fully negotiated contract that replaces a UCA once terms are agreed (Correct answer)
- A contract with a firm-fixed price only
- A contract approved by the agency head
Correct answer: A fully negotiated contract that replaces a UCA once terms are agreed
A definitive contract is the fully negotiated agreement that replaces an undefinitized contract action once price and all terms have been established.
Question 5: Under the Truth in Negotiations Act (TINA), when must contractors certify cost or pricing data?
- For all government contracts regardless of value
- For contracts expected to exceed $2 million, unless an exception applies (Correct answer)
- Only for cost-reimbursement contracts over $500,000
- For all sole-source awards over $250,000
Correct answer: For contracts expected to exceed $2 million, unless an exception applies
TINA (codified at 10 U.S.C. 3502 and 41 U.S.C. 3502) requires certified cost or pricing data for negotiated contracts expected to exceed $2 million, subject to specific exceptions.
Question 6: What is the primary purpose of a Procurement Integrity Act restriction on former government officials?
- To prevent them from bidding on any federal contract for life
- To prohibit disclosure of contractor bid or proposal information and source selection information (Correct answer)
- To bar them from lobbying Congress on procurement matters
- To require disclosure of all compensation received from contractors
Correct answer: To prohibit disclosure of contractor bid or proposal information and source selection information
The Procurement Integrity Act prohibits the unauthorized disclosure of contractor bid or proposal information and source selection information by government officials.
Question 7: Which acquisition planning document identifies all the major milestones and resource requirements for a procurement?
- Statement of Work
- Acquisition Plan (Correct answer)
- Performance Work Statement
- Independent Government Cost Estimate
Correct answer: Acquisition Plan
An Acquisition Plan documents the acquisition strategy, milestones, funding, competition approach, and other key decisions required by FAR Part 7.
Government Procurement Certification Government Procurement Processes & Procedures 3
In a sealed bid procurement, what happens if all bids received exceed the government's available funding?