Federal Source Selection and Proposal Evaluation Certification Exam: Contracting
Competency and SSA Authority, Source Selection Process and Best Value
Continuum, Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) Evaluation, Evaluation
Factors and Significant Subfactors, Non-Cost Factors Assessment, Proposal
Evaluation Procedures under FAR 15.306, Exchanges and Discussions with
Offerors, Performance Risk Considerations and Well-Defined Requirements,
Documented Rationale for Trade-Off Decisions, DoD Source Selection
Procedures and National Defense Authorization Act Compliance, Cost or Price
Analysis and Life-Cycle Cost Evaluation, Technical Acceptability and Objective
Criteria Assessment, Source Selection Authority (SSA) and Source Selection Team
(SST) Responsibilities, Source Select Advisory Council (SSAC) Guidance,
Competitive Range Determination, Final Proposal Revisions (FPRs) Submission
Exam Questions Verified and Provided with Complete A+ Graded Rationales
Latest Updated 2026
Contracting Competency
Skills required for effective contract management.
Source Selection
Process of evaluating proposals for contract awards.
FAR
Federal Acquisition Regulation governing procurement practices.
,Best Value Continuum
Approach balancing cost and technical factors in acquisitions.
Trade-off Process
Evaluating non-cost factors against price for awards.
Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA)
Selecting lowest priced acceptable proposal without trade-offs.
Evaluation Factors
Criteria used to assess proposals for contract awards.
Significant Subfactors
Important components of evaluation factors in proposals.
Solicitation
Document requesting proposals from potential contractors.
Acceptability Standards
Minimum requirements proposals must meet for evaluation.
,Non-Cost Factors
Criteria excluding price, like technical capability or past performance.
Proposal Evaluation
Process of assessing proposals against established criteria.
Exchanges (FAR 15.306)
Discussions between agency and offerors for clarification.
Performance Risk
Likelihood of contractor failing to meet contract requirements.
Well Defined Requirements
Clear specifications that minimize ambiguity in proposals.
Documented Rationale
Written justification for trade-offs in award decisions.
, National Defense Authorization Act
Legislation governing defense-related funding and procurement.
DoD Source Selection Procedures
Guidelines for Department of Defense contract evaluations.
Cost or Price
Financial aspect considered in source selection.
Technical Acceptability
Meeting required technical standards in proposals.
Acquisition Types
Different categories of procurement based on needs.
Relative Importance
Priority assigned to evaluation factors in proposals.
LPTA
Lowest Price Technically Acceptable selection process.
Competency and SSA Authority, Source Selection Process and Best Value
Continuum, Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) Evaluation, Evaluation
Factors and Significant Subfactors, Non-Cost Factors Assessment, Proposal
Evaluation Procedures under FAR 15.306, Exchanges and Discussions with
Offerors, Performance Risk Considerations and Well-Defined Requirements,
Documented Rationale for Trade-Off Decisions, DoD Source Selection
Procedures and National Defense Authorization Act Compliance, Cost or Price
Analysis and Life-Cycle Cost Evaluation, Technical Acceptability and Objective
Criteria Assessment, Source Selection Authority (SSA) and Source Selection Team
(SST) Responsibilities, Source Select Advisory Council (SSAC) Guidance,
Competitive Range Determination, Final Proposal Revisions (FPRs) Submission
Exam Questions Verified and Provided with Complete A+ Graded Rationales
Latest Updated 2026
Contracting Competency
Skills required for effective contract management.
Source Selection
Process of evaluating proposals for contract awards.
FAR
Federal Acquisition Regulation governing procurement practices.
,Best Value Continuum
Approach balancing cost and technical factors in acquisitions.
Trade-off Process
Evaluating non-cost factors against price for awards.
Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA)
Selecting lowest priced acceptable proposal without trade-offs.
Evaluation Factors
Criteria used to assess proposals for contract awards.
Significant Subfactors
Important components of evaluation factors in proposals.
Solicitation
Document requesting proposals from potential contractors.
Acceptability Standards
Minimum requirements proposals must meet for evaluation.
,Non-Cost Factors
Criteria excluding price, like technical capability or past performance.
Proposal Evaluation
Process of assessing proposals against established criteria.
Exchanges (FAR 15.306)
Discussions between agency and offerors for clarification.
Performance Risk
Likelihood of contractor failing to meet contract requirements.
Well Defined Requirements
Clear specifications that minimize ambiguity in proposals.
Documented Rationale
Written justification for trade-offs in award decisions.
, National Defense Authorization Act
Legislation governing defense-related funding and procurement.
DoD Source Selection Procedures
Guidelines for Department of Defense contract evaluations.
Cost or Price
Financial aspect considered in source selection.
Technical Acceptability
Meeting required technical standards in proposals.
Acquisition Types
Different categories of procurement based on needs.
Relative Importance
Priority assigned to evaluation factors in proposals.
LPTA
Lowest Price Technically Acceptable selection process.
