Certified Texas Contract Developer (CTCD) (2025) comprehensive
questions and verified answers
Q1: What is the primary responsibility of a Certified Texas Contract Developer (CTCD)?
a) Draft state legislation
b) Ensure compliance with Texas Government Code (correct answer)
c) Inspect construction sites
d) Audit vendor invoices
Rationale: CTCDs are responsible for ensuring all procurement and contracting activities adhere to
Texas laws and SPD rules.
Q2: The Texas Procurement Manual (TPM) is:
a) Optional
b) Emergency-only guidance
c) Mandatory (correct answer)
d) Used only for federal funds
Rationale: State agencies are required to follow TPM rules for procurement processes.
Q3: Which procurement method is used when requirements are clearly defined and award is based on lowest
price?
a) Proprietary procurement
b) Request for proposals
c) Competitive sealed bidding (correct answer)
d) Emergency purchase
Rationale: Competitive sealed bidding is used for well-defined requirements where price determines the
award.
,Q4: Which of the following is generally prohibited when awarding contracts?
a) Best value scoring
b) Lowest price
c) Price negotiation
d) Vendor preference (correct answer)
Rationale: State law generally prohibits awarding contracts based on vendor preference unless
specifically authorized.
Q5: Proprietary purchases typically require:
a) Payment processing
b) Minor administrative tasks
c) Contract review
d) SPD approval (correct answer)
Rationale: Proprietary purchases require SPD approval to justify bypassing competition.
Q6: The Texas Procurement Integrity Act is designed to:
a) Ensure vendor profit
b) Reduce paperwork
c) Protect public interest (correct answer)
d) Expedite contracts
Rationale: It maintains fairness, transparency, and ethical behavior in procurement.
Q7: Which activity must CTCDs refuse in all cases?
a) Accepting gifts under $50
b) Accepting meals
c) Accepting entertainment (correct answer)
d) Accepting small discounts
Rationale: All entertainment or gifts from vendors are prohibited, regardless of value.
,Q8: Which entity has statewide oversight of procurement?
a) Chief Technology Officer
b) Procurement Director
c) Statewide Procurement Division (SPD) (correct answer)
d) State Comptroller
Rationale: SPD oversees statewide procurement and provides guidance and oversight.
Q9: What is the first step in the contracting lifecycle?
a) Contract drafting
b) Vendor evaluation
c) Needs assessment (correct answer)
d) Bid posting
Rationale: Procurement begins with identifying and justifying agency needs.
Q10: Best value in Texas procurement considers:
a) Price only
b) HUB participation only
c) Vendor experience only
d) All evaluation factors combined (correct answer)
Rationale: Best value assessments include price, quality, past performance, and other relevant criteria.
Q11: Purchases exceeding which amount must be posted to the Electronic State Business Daily (ESBD)?
a) $10,000
b) $25,000 (correct answer)
c) $50,000
d) $100,000
Rationale: Purchases over $25,000 are required to be posted to ESBD for transparency.
, Q12: Which document must include clear performance expectations and deliverables?
a) Payment schedule
b) Vendor claims
c) Statement of Work (SOW) (correct answer)
d) Contract cost sheet
Rationale: The SOW defines the project scope, deliverables, and performance requirements.
Q13: Who publishes the Statewide Procurement Division Contract Management Guide?
a) Texas Senate
b) SPD (correct answer)
c) Vendor
d) Agency CFO
Rationale: SPD provides guidance and oversight to ensure compliant procurement processes.
Q14: What is required to prevent an unfair advantage for vendors in procurement?
a) Statement of Work
b) Procurement schedule
c) Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI) declaration (correct answer)
d) HUB report
Rationale: An OCI declaration identifies conflicts that could bias procurement.
Q15: Risk assessments are conducted during which phases?
a) Procurement only
b) Contract management only
c) Neither
d) Both (correct answer)
Rationale: Risk assessments occur during procurement and throughout contract management.
questions and verified answers
Q1: What is the primary responsibility of a Certified Texas Contract Developer (CTCD)?
a) Draft state legislation
b) Ensure compliance with Texas Government Code (correct answer)
c) Inspect construction sites
d) Audit vendor invoices
Rationale: CTCDs are responsible for ensuring all procurement and contracting activities adhere to
Texas laws and SPD rules.
Q2: The Texas Procurement Manual (TPM) is:
a) Optional
b) Emergency-only guidance
c) Mandatory (correct answer)
d) Used only for federal funds
Rationale: State agencies are required to follow TPM rules for procurement processes.
Q3: Which procurement method is used when requirements are clearly defined and award is based on lowest
price?
a) Proprietary procurement
b) Request for proposals
c) Competitive sealed bidding (correct answer)
d) Emergency purchase
Rationale: Competitive sealed bidding is used for well-defined requirements where price determines the
award.
,Q4: Which of the following is generally prohibited when awarding contracts?
a) Best value scoring
b) Lowest price
c) Price negotiation
d) Vendor preference (correct answer)
Rationale: State law generally prohibits awarding contracts based on vendor preference unless
specifically authorized.
Q5: Proprietary purchases typically require:
a) Payment processing
b) Minor administrative tasks
c) Contract review
d) SPD approval (correct answer)
Rationale: Proprietary purchases require SPD approval to justify bypassing competition.
Q6: The Texas Procurement Integrity Act is designed to:
a) Ensure vendor profit
b) Reduce paperwork
c) Protect public interest (correct answer)
d) Expedite contracts
Rationale: It maintains fairness, transparency, and ethical behavior in procurement.
Q7: Which activity must CTCDs refuse in all cases?
a) Accepting gifts under $50
b) Accepting meals
c) Accepting entertainment (correct answer)
d) Accepting small discounts
Rationale: All entertainment or gifts from vendors are prohibited, regardless of value.
,Q8: Which entity has statewide oversight of procurement?
a) Chief Technology Officer
b) Procurement Director
c) Statewide Procurement Division (SPD) (correct answer)
d) State Comptroller
Rationale: SPD oversees statewide procurement and provides guidance and oversight.
Q9: What is the first step in the contracting lifecycle?
a) Contract drafting
b) Vendor evaluation
c) Needs assessment (correct answer)
d) Bid posting
Rationale: Procurement begins with identifying and justifying agency needs.
Q10: Best value in Texas procurement considers:
a) Price only
b) HUB participation only
c) Vendor experience only
d) All evaluation factors combined (correct answer)
Rationale: Best value assessments include price, quality, past performance, and other relevant criteria.
Q11: Purchases exceeding which amount must be posted to the Electronic State Business Daily (ESBD)?
a) $10,000
b) $25,000 (correct answer)
c) $50,000
d) $100,000
Rationale: Purchases over $25,000 are required to be posted to ESBD for transparency.
, Q12: Which document must include clear performance expectations and deliverables?
a) Payment schedule
b) Vendor claims
c) Statement of Work (SOW) (correct answer)
d) Contract cost sheet
Rationale: The SOW defines the project scope, deliverables, and performance requirements.
Q13: Who publishes the Statewide Procurement Division Contract Management Guide?
a) Texas Senate
b) SPD (correct answer)
c) Vendor
d) Agency CFO
Rationale: SPD provides guidance and oversight to ensure compliant procurement processes.
Q14: What is required to prevent an unfair advantage for vendors in procurement?
a) Statement of Work
b) Procurement schedule
c) Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI) declaration (correct answer)
d) HUB report
Rationale: An OCI declaration identifies conflicts that could bias procurement.
Q15: Risk assessments are conducted during which phases?
a) Procurement only
b) Contract management only
c) Neither
d) Both (correct answer)
Rationale: Risk assessments occur during procurement and throughout contract management.