GSA Specialist Procurement Processes 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under FAR Part 13, what is the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT) for most federal procurements?
- $50,000
- $150,000 (Correct answer)
- $250,000
- $500,000
Correct answer: $150,000
The simplified acquisition threshold is $150,000 for most federal purchases, allowing streamlined procedures below this amount.
Question 2: Which GSA contract vehicle is specifically designed for IT products and services and managed by GSA's Federal Acquisition Service?
- GWAC OASIS
- Schedule 70 (now IT Schedule 70/MAS IT) (Correct answer)
- SEWP
- Alliant 2
Correct answer: Schedule 70 (now IT Schedule 70/MAS IT)
GSA's IT Schedule 70, now part of the Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) IT category, is the primary GSA vehicle for IT products and services.
Question 3: A contracting officer issues a Justification and Approval (J&A) document primarily to authorize what type of acquisition?
- Competitive sealed bids
- Other than full and open competition (Correct answer)
- Small business set-asides
- Sole source micro-purchases
Correct answer: Other than full and open competition
A J&A is required under FAR 6.303 to justify and obtain approval for procurements that will not use full and open competition.
Question 4: When using GSA MAS (Multiple Award Schedule), what document does the ordering contracting officer use to solicit quotes from schedule holders?
- Request for Proposal (RFP)
- Request for Quote (RFQ) (Correct answer)
- Invitation for Bid (IFB)
- Sources Sought Notice
Correct answer: Request for Quote (RFQ)
Orders under GSA MAS are placed by issuing an RFQ to schedule holders, not a formal RFP, since MAS contracts are already in place.
Question 5: The Trade Agreements Act (TAA) compliance requirement on GSA Schedule contracts means products must be manufactured or substantially transformed in:
- Only the United States
- A TAA-designated country or the U.S. (Correct answer)
- Any NATO member country
- Any country with a U.S. free trade agreement
Correct answer: A TAA-designated country or the U.S.
TAA requires that end products sold on GSA Schedules originate from the U.S. or a TAA-designated country, which includes FTA partners and WTO GPA signatories.
Question 6: Under FAR 8.405, before placing an order exceeding $25,000 against a GSA MAS contract, the ordering contracting officer must:
- Obtain Small Business Administration approval
- Consider at least three schedule contractors (Correct answer)
- Issue a synopsis on SAM.gov
- Request GSA headquarters authorization
Correct answer: Consider at least three schedule contractors
FAR 8.405-2 requires ordering agencies to consider at least three MAS contractors when placing orders for services exceeding $25,000.
Question 7: Which procurement method allows a GSA contracting officer to award a contract based on one offer when only one responsible source exists?
- Simplified acquisition
- Sole source justification under FAR 6.302-1 (Correct answer)
- Two-step sealed bidding
- Reverse auction
Correct answer: Sole source justification under FAR 6.302-1
FAR 6.302-1 permits noncompetitive procedures when only one responsible source exists and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.
GSA Specialist Procurement Processes 2
Under FAR Part 13, what is the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT) for most federal procurements?