Award

Question 1

Similar to color scales, but use adjectives indicating the value assigned;
Usually have three, four, or five ranges and descriptions that may include “Unacceptable,” “Marginal,” “Acceptable,” “Good,” and “Outstanding.”

Answer 1

Adjectival scale

Question 2

A technique used to break away from formal negotiations for the team to consider a point

Answer 2

Caucus:

Question 3

Cost or pricing data that were required to be submitted in
accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 15.403-4–5 and have been certified, or are required to be certified, in accordance with FAR 15.406-2; This certification states that, to the best of the person’s knowledge and belief, the cost or pricing data are accurate, complete, and current as of a date certain before contract award

Answer 3

Certified cost or pricing data

Question 4

Normally constructed with three, four, or five ranges; A three-range scale might consist of red for “Unsatisfactory,” green for “Satisfactory,” and blue for “Excellent”

Answer 4

Color scale

Question 5

A common technique used to identify gaps in the seller’s ability to
meet the customer’s needs as defined in the request for proposals; Lists all the solicitation references and functional requirements, along with indicators of the level of compliance (i.e., full, partial, or none)

Answer 5

Compliance matrix

Question 6

Something given up by one party to a negotiation

Answer 6

Concession

Question 7

The review and evaluation of a contractor’s costs or pricing data, and of
the judgmental factors applied in projecting from the data to the estimated costs, for the purpose of determining the degree to which the contractor’s proposed costs represent what contract performance should cost (assuming reasonable economy and efficiency)

Answer 7

Cost analysis

Question 8

All verifiable facts that could reasonably have a significant effect on
price negotiations and are available at the time of agreement on price

Answer 8

Cost or pricing data

Question 9

An explanation given by government personnel to an offeror detailing the reasons its proposal was unsuccessful

Answer 9

Debriefing

Question 10

Cost specifically identifiable with a contract requirement, including but not restricted to costs of material and/or labor directly incorporated into an end item

Answer 10

Direct cost

Question 11

The process of identifying and obtaining information necessary to
complete the evaluation of proposals

Answer 11

Fact-finding

Question 12

An agreed-to amount of reimbursement beyond the initial estimate of costs

Answer 12

Fee

Question 13

A cost which, for a given period of time and range of activity, called the
“relevant range,” does not change in total but becomes progressively smaller on a per unit basis as volume increases.

Answer 13

Fixed cost

Question 14

Any cost not directly identifiable with a specific cost objective, but subject to two or more cost objectives

Answer 14

Indirect cost

Question 15

The method of solicitation for the sealed bid process; The IFB must
describe the requirements of the government clearly, accurately, and completely; Unnecessarily restrictive specifications or requirements that might unduly limit the number of bidders are prohibited; The IFB includes all documents (whether attached or incorporated by reference) furnished by prospective bidders for the purpose of bidding.

Answer 15

Invitation for bids:

Question 16

This source selection process is appropriate when
best value is expected to result from selection of the technically acceptable proposal with the lowest evaluated price

Answer 16

Lowest price technically acceptable

Question 17

A process between buyers and sellers seeking to reach mutual agreement on a matter of common concern through fact-finding, bargaining, and persuasion

Answer 17

Negotiation:

Question 18

Using numeric rating scales, evaluators assign a range of points (0–10, 0–25, 0–100, etc.) to each evaluation factor, with the highest possible rating equaling the sum of the maximum points available for each factor.

Answer 18

Numeric scale

Question 19

This competency is in the award life cycle phase of contract
management, and it is in the “form contract” domain. It is the process of preparing for interaction between the buyer and seller regarding all aspects of the offer and its terms, and often involves clarifying requirements and parties requesting changes or consideration of an alternate approach that may be consistent with the solicitation
requirements. The value added by this process is that both parties work to find common ground or offer compromises among their differences in quantity, price, delivery, quality, or other factors

Answer 19

Plan negotiations

Question 20

The process of examining and evaluating a prospective price without
evaluation of the separate cost elements and proposed profit of the individual offeror

Answer 20

Price analysis

Question 21

The amount realized by a contractor after the cost of performance (both direct and indirect) are deducted from the amount to be paid under the terms of the contract.

Answer 21

Profit

Question 22

A written objection by an interested party to a solicitation by an agency for offers for a proposed contract for the acquisition of supplies or services, or a written objection by an interested party to a proposed award or the award of such a contract

Answer 22

Protest

Question 23

Used in negotiated acquisitions to communicate government
requirements to prospective contractors and to solicit proposals

Answer 23

Request for proposals

Question 24

A capable party that has the financial resources, personnel, facilities, integrity, and overall capability to fulfill specific contractual equirements satisfactorily

Answer 24

Responsible contractor

Question 25

Describes a bid that meets, without any material deviation, the expressed requirements of a solicitation; When a bidder fully complies with and does not materially deviate from the terms, conditions, and specifications set forth in an invitation for bids (sealed-bid method), it is deemed “responsive”; When an offeror materially complies with a solicitation and is capable of being made compliant through
discussions, it is deemed “responsive”

Answer 25

Responsive

Question 26

Procurement by obtaining sealed bids and awarding the contract to the
lowest-priced responsible bidder whose bid is responsive

Answer 26

Sealed bidding

Question 27

A less rigorous method for entering relatively low-dollar threshold contracts; Usually occurs without the elaborate and formal solicitation
techniques required by sealed bidding and negotiation.

Answer 27

Simplified acquisition

Question 28

The process wherein the requirements, facts, recommendations, and
policies relevant to an award decision in a competitive procurement of a system/project are examined and the decision made

Answer 28

Source selection

Question 29

The person who makes the final source selection in a
competition; Responsible for ensuring that the entire source selection process is properly and efficiently conducted

Answer 29

Source selection authority

Question 30

The selection among alternatives with the intent of obtaining optimal,
achievable system configuration; Often, a decision is made to opt for less of one parameter in order to achieve a more favorable overall system result

Answer 30

Tradeof

Question 31

A cost that changes with the rate of production of goods or performance of services

Answer 31

Variable cost

Question 32

What is the term for the variation in prices for consumer goods over time?

Answer 32

Economic escalation

Question 33

What law requires federal government contractors to submit certified cost or pricing data in certain circumstances?

Answer 33

The Truthful Cost or Pricing Data statute

Question 34

Ambiguous, incomplete, or restrictive requirements; exclusion from the competitive range; and unfair evaluation criteria are examples of what?

Answer 34

Issues that a seller might raise in a pre-award protest

Question 35

What is the most important step in the negotiation process?

Answer 35

Preparation

Question 36

Which of the following is not a recommended best practice for buyers during negotiations?

Answer 36

Use predictable tactics

Question 37

The following are all types of source selection:

Answer 37

Sealed bidding, Simplified acquisition, and Negotiation

Question 38

Although it is not possible for every negotiator to do an in-depth analysis of each acquisition, what information should the seller have, at a minimum, before beginning negotiations?

Answer 38

The purpose of the acquisition, the buyer’s objectives, who the end user is, and the needs of the end user

Question 39

The difference between total cost and total revenue is called what?

Answer 39

Profit

Question 40

The statement “I certify that the claim is made in good faith; that the supporting data are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief; that the amount requested accurately reflects the contract adjustment for which the contractor believes the government is liable; and that I am duly authorized to certify the claim on behalf of the contractor“ must accompany claims over what amount?

Answer 40

$100,000

Question 41

Which of the following illustrates the government’s process during source selection?

Answer 41

Request information, draft RFP, presolicitation conference, final RFP, receive proposals, proposal evaluation, source selection

Question 42

An agency has issued a solicitation for the purchase of a commercial item and an offeror submits cost data to the buyer. Is this data sufficient to determine cost reasonableness?

Answer 42

No, because the factors and assumptions supporting the cost data must first be analyzed and evaluated

Question 43

FAR Part 13 defines procedures for performing acquisitions at or below a specified threshold. What is special about these acquisitions?

Answer 43

They use simplified acquisition processes

Question 44

What is the term for a bid that complies in all material aspects with the invitation for bids?

Answer 44

Responsive

Question 45

Which evaluation factor should always be considered in negotiated procurements?

Answer 45

Price

Question 46

What is the purpose of source selection?

Answer 46

Determining how a company wins a contract

Question 47

What are the federal government’s two techniques for source selection in negotiated acquisitions?

Answer 47

Lowest price technically acceptable and tradeoff

Question 48

FAPIIS, CPARS, and PPIRS are government databases that can help buyers evaluate what?

Answer 48

An offeror’s past performance

Question 49

In all negotiations, both the buyer and the seller teams should include which of the following?

Answer 49

A designated lead negotiator

Question 50

To establish that both parties to a negotiation accept the final agreement, what should be done when an agreement is reached?

Answer 50

Document the facts upon which the agreement was reached

Question 51

Why does the CMBOK describe the establishment of negotiation objectives as an “ongoing” process?

Answer 51

Negotiation objectives may change as circumstances around the negotiation change

Question 52

the following is true about cost or pricing data?

Answer 52

The data contributes to the soundness of the estimates of future costs
o The data contributes to the validity of determinations of costs already incurred
o The data is factual, verifiable, and not judgmental

Question 53

Which of the following is true about cost analysis?

Answer 53

Cost analysis helps ensure a fair and reasonable price by evaluating separate cost elements along with profits or fees

Question 54

Two or more responsible offerors, competing independently, submit priced offers that satisfy the government’s expressed requirement. This is an example of what?

Answer 54

Adequate price competition

Question 55

Which of the five contract management domains occurs within the Award phase of the contract life cycle?

Answer 55

Form contract

Question 56

Which of the following costs is a direct cost?

Answer 56

A material, such as plywood, incorporated into an end product

Question 57

For which party is it important to answer the question “Who is the other party’s lead negotiator?”

Answer 57

Both the buyer and the seller