NCMA - National Contract Management Association Post-Award Contract Administration Questions and Answers

Question 1

A government contracting officer issues a written notice to a contractor specifying a failure to make progress that endangers contract performance. The notice provides the contractor with 10 days to correct the issue. This type of notice is best described as a:

Accepted Answer

Cure Notice

Answer

A Cure Notice is a written notification from the contracting officer to the contractor detailing a specific failure in performance (other than late delivery) and providing a set period, typically 10 days, to 'cure' the failure. A Show Cause Notice is generally used when the time for delivery has passed or when a cure is not considered feasible, asking the contractor to show why the contract shouldn't be terminated for default.

Question 2

A contract requires the delivery of a custom software module. During performance, the government's technical representative provides verbal direction to the contractor to add a significant new feature not described in the original statement of work. The contractor performs the extra work. This scenario is an example of:

Accepted Answer

A constructive change

Answer

A constructive change occurs when a contractor performs work beyond the contract requirements due to government conduct, but without a formal, written change order. The informal direction from the government representative that leads to extra work creates a situation that is 'construed' as having the effect of a change order.

Question 3

Which of the following is a primary objective of post-award contract monitoring?

Accepted Answer

Ensuring all parties adhere to the agreed-upon terms and obligations.

Answer

Post-award contract monitoring is focused on the activities that occur after the contract is signed. Its main purpose is to ensure that both the contractor and the buyer are fulfilling their contractual obligations, tracking performance, managing risk, and ensuring the intended outcomes of the contract are achieved.

Question 4

A contract administrator is preparing to close out a physically completed firm-fixed-price contract. Which of the following is a critical step in the contract closeout process?

Accepted Answer

Verifying receipt of the contractor's final invoice and release of claims.

Answer

Contract closeout procedures, as outlined in FAR 4.804, require several administrative actions to be completed. A key step is ensuring that all deliverables have been accepted, all financial matters are settled, and the government has received necessary documentation, which includes the contractor's final invoice and a statement releasing the government from any further claims.

Question 5

During a performance review meeting for a service contract, the contract administrator should primarily focus on:

Accepted Answer

The contractor's performance against the contract's key performance indicators (KPIs) and service level agreements (SLAs).

Answer

Effective post-award administration involves actively monitoring and evaluating contractor performance. This is best accomplished by measuring performance against the objective metrics established in the contract, such as Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Service Level Agreements (SLAs), to ensure the expected value and quality are being delivered.

NCMA - National Contract Management Association Certification Practice Test

NCMA - National Contract Management Association Certification Practice Test

NCMA - National Contract Management Association Post-Award Contract Administration Questions and Answers