CORB Study Guide UPDATED ACTUAL Questions and CORRECT Answers
You receive a customer's procurement package. In it, the I would recommend that the customer include a requirement for commitment
PWS addresses key personnel required. The customer letters from all vendors and state in the solicitation that key personnel with also
wants to evaluate the availability and commitment of the be evaluated by both their qualifications and by evaluating their commitment
proposed key personnel when evaluating offers. What letter. Section L - Instructions, Conditions and Notices to Bidders, Section M -
would you recommend the customer include in the Evaluation Factors for Award.
instructions to offerors for proposal submission
requirements and evaluation factors?
Why is inspection and acceptance important to the FAR 46.5 Risk of loss of or damage to supplies shall remain with the contractor
Government? until, and shall pass to the Government upon Delivery or Acceptance. After 30
days without rejection, it is considered accepted by the GOV. The KO wants to
ensure the COR inspects all received supplies and services to ensure we get what
we ordered and are good stewards of the taxpayers money. To prevent fraud,
waste and abuse. It is part of the quality assurance.
Explain the difference between an offeror's experience Experience details work that the contractor has done in scale and scope. Past
and an offeror's past performance performance is a report of how well they did. Performance can be obtained by
CPARS, Past Performance Retrieval System (PPIRS), and surveys.
How would you define depth and breadth of an offeror's Breadth of experience reflects the Offeror's experience in performing the full
experience to be included in a solicitation/evaluation? range/all of the efforts required. Depth of experience reflects the magnitude,
significance, and applicability/relevance of the Offeror's experience in performing
each of the efforts required. An offeror's past performance should only be
included if it is similar in nature to the new solicitation that is being evaluated. It
could be the qualifications/certification that the offeror has or previous/relevant
work that the offeror had completed.
,A legally binding contract must contain what elements? An offer and an acceptance. 1. Component Parties (capacity, competence, and
Authority) 2. Mutual Assent (binding offer, valid acceptance, and meeting of the
minds) 3. Consideration (the bargained for legal value of the deal) 4. Certainty of
terms (the contract must be unambiguous) 5. Lawful purpose (Violations of the
law will not be enforced)
Explain the "Bona Fide Needs" rule. It is a rule of appropriations law. It mandates that a fiscal year's appropriations
only be obligated to meet a legitimate—or bona fide—need arising in (or
sometimes before) the fiscal year for which the appropriation was made. Penalty is
Job, 2 years in Jail and $5K fine or both.
What is the order of precedence for a solicitation or Order of precedence Rule: UCF: a tiebreaker based on where the argument is in
contract in accordance with FAR 52.215-8? For example, the contract and not in the contract itself.
the specifications require a different item than is stated in (a) The Schedule (excluding the specifications).
the Schedule (Section B). What does the contractor use? (b) Representations and other instructions.
(c) Contract clauses.
(d) Other documents, exhibits, and attachments.
(e) The specifications.
Once all receivables have been delivered/completed 1. Required deliveries completed and accepted by the GOV.
and verified by the customer/COR, the ACO or KO 2. All services performed and accepted by GOV.
reviews the contract files for remaining closeout actions. 3. All option provisions if any expired.
Why is contract closeout so important? What actions 4. GOV gives the contractor notice. Past performance evaluation (if required).
need to be taken in closeout? Closeouts is required per Completion settlement and final voucher submitted. Second, release of claims
FAR 4.804, it is necessary to ensure all actions under signed. DD 1594 Contract Completion Statement and 1597.
contract are complete, final payment is processed, and
left-over funds are deobligated.
On a full and open competitive negotiated acquisition, If the Contracting Officer decides that an offeror's proposal should no longer be
you have received five proposals and determined that included in the competitive range, the proposal will be eliminated from further
discussions are needed, what is the process of consideration for award. The Contracting Officer must provide written notice of
determining which offerors are in the competitive range this decision to unsuccessful offerors in accordance with FAR Part 15.503(a). The
for these discussions? notice to each offeror must state (1) the basis for excluding/eliminating its offer,
(2) the basis for the determination, and (3) that a revision of its proposal will not
be considered.
The Contracting Officer must prepare a written competitive range determination
based on all evaluation factors, including a complete rationale for decisions to
include or exclude specific proposals from the competitive range. This document
is the Competitive Range Determination memorandum.
If you have a competitive requirement, how will you LPTA is when price is the most important factor. Lowest price, no tradeoff.
determine the Best Value Approach to use in regards to Tradeoff is when other factors outweigh cost. It is the most flexible. We always
choosing LPTA or Tradeoff? Also, give at least one consider cost. Evaluation of factors in mandatory on contracts exceeding $1MIL.
example when each is appropriate. (Price, quality or technical, Past Performance). Tradeoff would usually be used in
more complicated requirements where certain qualities are more important to the
customer than others. LPTA would be used for simpler supply buys.
, How would you mentor a new Contract Specialist (recent Conduct an Initial counseling that covers duties and expectations. Set goals and
intern graduate) that has been assigned to your team? priorities. Review and approve their Individual Development Plan (IDP), Assign a
What tools would you provide to your specialist in coach and mentor. I would mentor a new CS assigned to my team by helping
accomplishing their duties? What tools do you use in them through a common SAT purchase, explaining the steps and procedures
accomplishing your duties? involved. I would show them local SOPs, Policy Letters, PCF, SAM, FARsite, and
WAWF.
What is an unauthorized commitment? What steps do you An unauthorized commitment is $$ committed by an individual who did not have
take in evaluating, processing and approving an the authority to obligate the $$. To approve a UC, you will need to go through the
unauthorized commitment? ratification process.
Unauthorized commitments violate federal law, federal regulations, and the
Government-wide Standards of Conduct for Federal Employees, and the DFARS.
Ratification. Cases that cannot be ratified under FAR 1.602-3 may be subject to
resolution as authorized by FAR Subpart 33.2, Disputes and Appeals.
What do you envision is the role of your CORs? When are The KO usually delegates surveillance and status reporting under FAR PART 42.
you required to appoint one? What authorities are you The COR is the eyes and ears of the Contracting Officer. Shall be certified and
allowed to delegate to your COR? What authorities are maintain certification. CORs are not authorized to make commitments. CORs must
not delegable to the COR? be a government employees. CORs duties are to promptly inspect services, ID if
they meet or do not meet AQL, SAT or UNSAT completion, and complete
performance evaluation. The COR accepts and inspects goods and services. At
the DoD level, the guidance for when a COR is required to be designated is not
tied to a dollar threshold. It requires a more subjective analysis surrounding the
risk of contract performance and oversight the government wishes to have. That
said, there is guidance for use in making this decision. Unless you have local or
agency level policy we are unaware of, the guidance you need can be found at
DFARS PGI 201.602-2(iv)(A), which states:
"Contracting officers shall designate a COR for all service contracts, including
both firm fixed price and other than firm fixed price contracts, awarded by a DoD
component or by any other Federal agency on behalf of DoD. The surveillance
activities performed by CORs should be tailored to the dollar value/complexity of
the specific contract for which they are designated. Contracting officers may
exempt service contracts from this requirement when (each of) the following
three conditions are met:
(1) The contract will be awarded using simplified acquisition procedures;
(2) The requirement is not complex; and
(3) The contracting officer documents the file, in writing, why the appointment of a
COR is unnecessary.
For cost reimbursement contracts that are not service contracts, contracting
officers shall either retain or delegate surveillance activities to a COR or DCMA."
If there is no COR assigned; then ultimately the contracting officer is responsible
for monitoring contractor performance. This makes sense considering that when a
COR is appointed it is some of the contracting officer's authority/responsibility
they are being delegated.
What is the difference between a commercial "Test They both use the SAP procedures. Part 13.5 threshold is $7 million, while
Program" procurement (FAR 13.5) and a commercial commercial is $150K. Test program is for certain commercial items up to $7 million
procurement that is not utilizing the test program (FAR and Simplified Acq Procedures could be used. Commercial procurement not
12)? utilizing test program (FAR 12) can be used with procedures in FAR Parts 13, 14 ,
and 15.
You receive a customer's procurement package. In it, the I would recommend that the customer include a requirement for commitment
PWS addresses key personnel required. The customer letters from all vendors and state in the solicitation that key personnel with also
wants to evaluate the availability and commitment of the be evaluated by both their qualifications and by evaluating their commitment
proposed key personnel when evaluating offers. What letter. Section L - Instructions, Conditions and Notices to Bidders, Section M -
would you recommend the customer include in the Evaluation Factors for Award.
instructions to offerors for proposal submission
requirements and evaluation factors?
Why is inspection and acceptance important to the FAR 46.5 Risk of loss of or damage to supplies shall remain with the contractor
Government? until, and shall pass to the Government upon Delivery or Acceptance. After 30
days without rejection, it is considered accepted by the GOV. The KO wants to
ensure the COR inspects all received supplies and services to ensure we get what
we ordered and are good stewards of the taxpayers money. To prevent fraud,
waste and abuse. It is part of the quality assurance.
Explain the difference between an offeror's experience Experience details work that the contractor has done in scale and scope. Past
and an offeror's past performance performance is a report of how well they did. Performance can be obtained by
CPARS, Past Performance Retrieval System (PPIRS), and surveys.
How would you define depth and breadth of an offeror's Breadth of experience reflects the Offeror's experience in performing the full
experience to be included in a solicitation/evaluation? range/all of the efforts required. Depth of experience reflects the magnitude,
significance, and applicability/relevance of the Offeror's experience in performing
each of the efforts required. An offeror's past performance should only be
included if it is similar in nature to the new solicitation that is being evaluated. It
could be the qualifications/certification that the offeror has or previous/relevant
work that the offeror had completed.
,A legally binding contract must contain what elements? An offer and an acceptance. 1. Component Parties (capacity, competence, and
Authority) 2. Mutual Assent (binding offer, valid acceptance, and meeting of the
minds) 3. Consideration (the bargained for legal value of the deal) 4. Certainty of
terms (the contract must be unambiguous) 5. Lawful purpose (Violations of the
law will not be enforced)
Explain the "Bona Fide Needs" rule. It is a rule of appropriations law. It mandates that a fiscal year's appropriations
only be obligated to meet a legitimate—or bona fide—need arising in (or
sometimes before) the fiscal year for which the appropriation was made. Penalty is
Job, 2 years in Jail and $5K fine or both.
What is the order of precedence for a solicitation or Order of precedence Rule: UCF: a tiebreaker based on where the argument is in
contract in accordance with FAR 52.215-8? For example, the contract and not in the contract itself.
the specifications require a different item than is stated in (a) The Schedule (excluding the specifications).
the Schedule (Section B). What does the contractor use? (b) Representations and other instructions.
(c) Contract clauses.
(d) Other documents, exhibits, and attachments.
(e) The specifications.
Once all receivables have been delivered/completed 1. Required deliveries completed and accepted by the GOV.
and verified by the customer/COR, the ACO or KO 2. All services performed and accepted by GOV.
reviews the contract files for remaining closeout actions. 3. All option provisions if any expired.
Why is contract closeout so important? What actions 4. GOV gives the contractor notice. Past performance evaluation (if required).
need to be taken in closeout? Closeouts is required per Completion settlement and final voucher submitted. Second, release of claims
FAR 4.804, it is necessary to ensure all actions under signed. DD 1594 Contract Completion Statement and 1597.
contract are complete, final payment is processed, and
left-over funds are deobligated.
On a full and open competitive negotiated acquisition, If the Contracting Officer decides that an offeror's proposal should no longer be
you have received five proposals and determined that included in the competitive range, the proposal will be eliminated from further
discussions are needed, what is the process of consideration for award. The Contracting Officer must provide written notice of
determining which offerors are in the competitive range this decision to unsuccessful offerors in accordance with FAR Part 15.503(a). The
for these discussions? notice to each offeror must state (1) the basis for excluding/eliminating its offer,
(2) the basis for the determination, and (3) that a revision of its proposal will not
be considered.
The Contracting Officer must prepare a written competitive range determination
based on all evaluation factors, including a complete rationale for decisions to
include or exclude specific proposals from the competitive range. This document
is the Competitive Range Determination memorandum.
If you have a competitive requirement, how will you LPTA is when price is the most important factor. Lowest price, no tradeoff.
determine the Best Value Approach to use in regards to Tradeoff is when other factors outweigh cost. It is the most flexible. We always
choosing LPTA or Tradeoff? Also, give at least one consider cost. Evaluation of factors in mandatory on contracts exceeding $1MIL.
example when each is appropriate. (Price, quality or technical, Past Performance). Tradeoff would usually be used in
more complicated requirements where certain qualities are more important to the
customer than others. LPTA would be used for simpler supply buys.
, How would you mentor a new Contract Specialist (recent Conduct an Initial counseling that covers duties and expectations. Set goals and
intern graduate) that has been assigned to your team? priorities. Review and approve their Individual Development Plan (IDP), Assign a
What tools would you provide to your specialist in coach and mentor. I would mentor a new CS assigned to my team by helping
accomplishing their duties? What tools do you use in them through a common SAT purchase, explaining the steps and procedures
accomplishing your duties? involved. I would show them local SOPs, Policy Letters, PCF, SAM, FARsite, and
WAWF.
What is an unauthorized commitment? What steps do you An unauthorized commitment is $$ committed by an individual who did not have
take in evaluating, processing and approving an the authority to obligate the $$. To approve a UC, you will need to go through the
unauthorized commitment? ratification process.
Unauthorized commitments violate federal law, federal regulations, and the
Government-wide Standards of Conduct for Federal Employees, and the DFARS.
Ratification. Cases that cannot be ratified under FAR 1.602-3 may be subject to
resolution as authorized by FAR Subpart 33.2, Disputes and Appeals.
What do you envision is the role of your CORs? When are The KO usually delegates surveillance and status reporting under FAR PART 42.
you required to appoint one? What authorities are you The COR is the eyes and ears of the Contracting Officer. Shall be certified and
allowed to delegate to your COR? What authorities are maintain certification. CORs are not authorized to make commitments. CORs must
not delegable to the COR? be a government employees. CORs duties are to promptly inspect services, ID if
they meet or do not meet AQL, SAT or UNSAT completion, and complete
performance evaluation. The COR accepts and inspects goods and services. At
the DoD level, the guidance for when a COR is required to be designated is not
tied to a dollar threshold. It requires a more subjective analysis surrounding the
risk of contract performance and oversight the government wishes to have. That
said, there is guidance for use in making this decision. Unless you have local or
agency level policy we are unaware of, the guidance you need can be found at
DFARS PGI 201.602-2(iv)(A), which states:
"Contracting officers shall designate a COR for all service contracts, including
both firm fixed price and other than firm fixed price contracts, awarded by a DoD
component or by any other Federal agency on behalf of DoD. The surveillance
activities performed by CORs should be tailored to the dollar value/complexity of
the specific contract for which they are designated. Contracting officers may
exempt service contracts from this requirement when (each of) the following
three conditions are met:
(1) The contract will be awarded using simplified acquisition procedures;
(2) The requirement is not complex; and
(3) The contracting officer documents the file, in writing, why the appointment of a
COR is unnecessary.
For cost reimbursement contracts that are not service contracts, contracting
officers shall either retain or delegate surveillance activities to a COR or DCMA."
If there is no COR assigned; then ultimately the contracting officer is responsible
for monitoring contractor performance. This makes sense considering that when a
COR is appointed it is some of the contracting officer's authority/responsibility
they are being delegated.
What is the difference between a commercial "Test They both use the SAP procedures. Part 13.5 threshold is $7 million, while
Program" procurement (FAR 13.5) and a commercial commercial is $150K. Test program is for certain commercial items up to $7 million
procurement that is not utilizing the test program (FAR and Simplified Acq Procedures could be used. Commercial procurement not
12)? utilizing test program (FAR 12) can be used with procedures in FAR Parts 13, 14 ,
and 15.
