CON 3990 Exam QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
Contracting Life Cycle Phases - ANSWER>>1. Pre-Award
2. Award
3. Post Award
Communication and Decision Making Bias - ANSWER>>1. Minimize influence of
Personal biases
2. Maximize the likelihood of a successful result.
3. Facilitate communication among affected parties.
Minimize the Effect of Personal Biases - ANSWER>>The contracting professional
should strive to minimize the influence of personal biases.
Maximize the likelihood of Successful Results - ANSWER>>1. AR 1.102-4(e) states
that contracting officers "should take the lead in encouraging business process
innovations and ensuring that business decisions are sound."
Facilitate Communications Among Affected Parties - ANSWER>>1. Effective
communication minimizes the effect of personal biases, maximizes the likelihood
of successful results, and facilitates communications among affected
stakeholders.
Cost, quality and timeliness of products and services - ANSWER>>1. FAR 1.102-
2(a) tells contracting professionals that a guiding principle is to satisfy customers
in terms of cost, quality, and timeliness of the delivered product or service.
Contracting Officer Representative (COR) - ANSWER>>1. FAR 1.602-2(d)(7) states
that contracting officers shall designate CORs in writing and furnish copies to the
contractor and the contract administration office
,Standards of conduct - ANSWER>>1. FAR 3.101-1 tells us Government business
shall be conducted in a manner above reproach and, except as authorized by
statute or regulation, with complete impartiality and with preferential treatment
for none.
Methods of disseminating information - ANSWER>>1. For proposed contract
actions expected to exceed $25,000, by synopsizing in theGovernment-wide Point
of Entry (GPE).For proposed contract actions expected to exceed $15,000, but not
expected to exceed$25,000. by displaying in a public place.
Justification and Approval (J&A) - ANSWER>>2.FAR 6.303-1(a) states a contracting
officer shall not commence negotiations for a sole source contract,commence
negotiations for a contract resulting from an unsolicited proposal, or award any
othercontract without providing for full and open competition unless the
contracting officer-
I. Justifies, if required in FAR 6.302, the use of such actions in writing;
II. Certifies the accuracy and completeness of the justification;
III. (and) Obtains the approval required by FAR 6.304.
Post award orientation: - ANSWER>>1. FAR 42.501(a) states a post award
orientation aids both Government and contractor personnel to (1) achieve a clear
and mutual understanding of all contract requirements, and (2) identify and
resolve potential problems. However, it is not a substitute for the contractor's
fully understanding the work requirements at the time offers are submitted, nor
is it to be used to alter the final agreement arrived at in any negotiations leading
to contract award.
Standards of Conduct: - ANSWER>>1. (FAR 3.101-1). Transactions relating to the
expenditure of public funds require the highest degree of public trust and an
impeccable standard of conduct. The general rule is to avoid strictly any conflict
of interest, or even the appearance of a conflict of interest in government-
contractor relationships.
,Solicitation and Acceptance of Gratuities by Government Personnel -
ANSWER>>The overarching rule on accepting gifts from contractor/employees is
at (FAR 3.101-2). You may not solicit gifts from anyone, for any reason. This
means for yourself or for others. Federal employees are prohibited from soliciting
or accepting gifts.
Disclosures - ANSWER>>No person or other entity may disclose contractor bid or
proposal information or source selection information to any person other than a
person authorized, in accordance with applicable agency regulations or
procedures, by the agency head or the contracting officer.
Contracts with Government Employees: - ANSWER>>A contracting officer shall
not knowingly award a contract to a Government employee or to a business
concern or other organization owned or substantially owned or controlled by one
or more Government employees (FAR 3.601).
Personal Conflicts of interest: - ANSWER>>FAR part 3 covers polices and
procedures related to avoiding improper business practices and personal conflicts
of interest. A "personal conflict of interest" is a situation where an individual is
employed by a defense contractor company and is in a position to materially
influence DOD's recommendations and/or decisions and, because of his/her
personal activities, relationships, or financial interests, may lack or appear to lack
objectivity, or appear to be unduly influenced by personal financial interest.
Organizational Conflicts of interest: - ANSWER>>An OCI is the existence of a set of
circumstances in which a contractor may be unable to render impartial advice to
the government, or might have impaired objectivity in performing contracted
work, or may obtain an unfair competitive advantage in the marketplace when
competing for government work where that unfair advantage is obtained
performing a government contract.
, There are three broad categories of Organizational Conflicts of interest OCI: -
ANSWER>>1. Unequal Access
2. Impaired Objectivity
3. Biased Ground Rules
Three basic approaches available to contractors and the Agency for dealing with
OCI issues, as follows: - ANSWER>>1. Avoid - Prevent the occurrence of an actual
or potential OCI through actions such as excluding sources from competition or
eliminating a segment of work from a contract or task.
2. Neutralize - Negate, through a specific action, potential or actual OCI related to
either a contractor's objectivity during contract performance, or unfair
competitive advantage. Specific actions could include encouraging and facilitating
support contractor recusal, excluding or severely limiting support contractor
participation in source selection activities, and/or otherwise barring access to
competition sensitive data.
3. Mitigate - Reduce or alleviate the impact of unavoidable OCIs to an acceptable
level of risk so that the government's interests with regard to fair competition and
contract performance are not prejudiced. This is facilitated in developing an OCI
mitigation plan (DFARS 209.571-4).
Contractor Code of Business Ethics and Conduct: - ANSWER>>1. Per FAR 3.1002,
Government contractors must conduct themselves with the highest degree of
integrity and honesty. Contractors should have a written code of business ethics
and conduct.
Facilities and Capital Cost of Money Form - ANSWER>>DD1861
Weighted Guidelines Form - ANSWER>>DD FORM 1547
Abstract of Offers Form - ANSWER>>SF1409
On the spot/over the counter Form - ANSWER>>SF 44
ANSWERS
Contracting Life Cycle Phases - ANSWER>>1. Pre-Award
2. Award
3. Post Award
Communication and Decision Making Bias - ANSWER>>1. Minimize influence of
Personal biases
2. Maximize the likelihood of a successful result.
3. Facilitate communication among affected parties.
Minimize the Effect of Personal Biases - ANSWER>>The contracting professional
should strive to minimize the influence of personal biases.
Maximize the likelihood of Successful Results - ANSWER>>1. AR 1.102-4(e) states
that contracting officers "should take the lead in encouraging business process
innovations and ensuring that business decisions are sound."
Facilitate Communications Among Affected Parties - ANSWER>>1. Effective
communication minimizes the effect of personal biases, maximizes the likelihood
of successful results, and facilitates communications among affected
stakeholders.
Cost, quality and timeliness of products and services - ANSWER>>1. FAR 1.102-
2(a) tells contracting professionals that a guiding principle is to satisfy customers
in terms of cost, quality, and timeliness of the delivered product or service.
Contracting Officer Representative (COR) - ANSWER>>1. FAR 1.602-2(d)(7) states
that contracting officers shall designate CORs in writing and furnish copies to the
contractor and the contract administration office
,Standards of conduct - ANSWER>>1. FAR 3.101-1 tells us Government business
shall be conducted in a manner above reproach and, except as authorized by
statute or regulation, with complete impartiality and with preferential treatment
for none.
Methods of disseminating information - ANSWER>>1. For proposed contract
actions expected to exceed $25,000, by synopsizing in theGovernment-wide Point
of Entry (GPE).For proposed contract actions expected to exceed $15,000, but not
expected to exceed$25,000. by displaying in a public place.
Justification and Approval (J&A) - ANSWER>>2.FAR 6.303-1(a) states a contracting
officer shall not commence negotiations for a sole source contract,commence
negotiations for a contract resulting from an unsolicited proposal, or award any
othercontract without providing for full and open competition unless the
contracting officer-
I. Justifies, if required in FAR 6.302, the use of such actions in writing;
II. Certifies the accuracy and completeness of the justification;
III. (and) Obtains the approval required by FAR 6.304.
Post award orientation: - ANSWER>>1. FAR 42.501(a) states a post award
orientation aids both Government and contractor personnel to (1) achieve a clear
and mutual understanding of all contract requirements, and (2) identify and
resolve potential problems. However, it is not a substitute for the contractor's
fully understanding the work requirements at the time offers are submitted, nor
is it to be used to alter the final agreement arrived at in any negotiations leading
to contract award.
Standards of Conduct: - ANSWER>>1. (FAR 3.101-1). Transactions relating to the
expenditure of public funds require the highest degree of public trust and an
impeccable standard of conduct. The general rule is to avoid strictly any conflict
of interest, or even the appearance of a conflict of interest in government-
contractor relationships.
,Solicitation and Acceptance of Gratuities by Government Personnel -
ANSWER>>The overarching rule on accepting gifts from contractor/employees is
at (FAR 3.101-2). You may not solicit gifts from anyone, for any reason. This
means for yourself or for others. Federal employees are prohibited from soliciting
or accepting gifts.
Disclosures - ANSWER>>No person or other entity may disclose contractor bid or
proposal information or source selection information to any person other than a
person authorized, in accordance with applicable agency regulations or
procedures, by the agency head or the contracting officer.
Contracts with Government Employees: - ANSWER>>A contracting officer shall
not knowingly award a contract to a Government employee or to a business
concern or other organization owned or substantially owned or controlled by one
or more Government employees (FAR 3.601).
Personal Conflicts of interest: - ANSWER>>FAR part 3 covers polices and
procedures related to avoiding improper business practices and personal conflicts
of interest. A "personal conflict of interest" is a situation where an individual is
employed by a defense contractor company and is in a position to materially
influence DOD's recommendations and/or decisions and, because of his/her
personal activities, relationships, or financial interests, may lack or appear to lack
objectivity, or appear to be unduly influenced by personal financial interest.
Organizational Conflicts of interest: - ANSWER>>An OCI is the existence of a set of
circumstances in which a contractor may be unable to render impartial advice to
the government, or might have impaired objectivity in performing contracted
work, or may obtain an unfair competitive advantage in the marketplace when
competing for government work where that unfair advantage is obtained
performing a government contract.
, There are three broad categories of Organizational Conflicts of interest OCI: -
ANSWER>>1. Unequal Access
2. Impaired Objectivity
3. Biased Ground Rules
Three basic approaches available to contractors and the Agency for dealing with
OCI issues, as follows: - ANSWER>>1. Avoid - Prevent the occurrence of an actual
or potential OCI through actions such as excluding sources from competition or
eliminating a segment of work from a contract or task.
2. Neutralize - Negate, through a specific action, potential or actual OCI related to
either a contractor's objectivity during contract performance, or unfair
competitive advantage. Specific actions could include encouraging and facilitating
support contractor recusal, excluding or severely limiting support contractor
participation in source selection activities, and/or otherwise barring access to
competition sensitive data.
3. Mitigate - Reduce or alleviate the impact of unavoidable OCIs to an acceptable
level of risk so that the government's interests with regard to fair competition and
contract performance are not prejudiced. This is facilitated in developing an OCI
mitigation plan (DFARS 209.571-4).
Contractor Code of Business Ethics and Conduct: - ANSWER>>1. Per FAR 3.1002,
Government contractors must conduct themselves with the highest degree of
integrity and honesty. Contractors should have a written code of business ethics
and conduct.
Facilities and Capital Cost of Money Form - ANSWER>>DD1861
Weighted Guidelines Form - ANSWER>>DD FORM 1547
Abstract of Offers Form - ANSWER>>SF1409
On the spot/over the counter Form - ANSWER>>SF 44
