Contracting Exam 1 Flashcards
What are the three branches of Gov’t?
Legislative
Executive
Judicial
Major Categories of Acquisition
- Supplies and equipment
- Services
- Construction
- Research and Development
What are the three phases of contracting?
Contract Planning
Contract Formation
Contract Administration
What occurs during the contract planning phase?
Market Research
Planning for competition
Describing agency needs
What occurs during the contract formation phase?
Solicitation
Negotiation of terms
Prepare and Award
What occurs during the contract administration phase?
All post award activities
Payment
What are the three types of KOs
-Procuring Contracting Officer (PCO) — KO primarily engaged in awarding contracts
- Administrative Contracting Officer (ACO)
- –Primarily engaged in administering contracts (Post Award)
- Termination Contracting Officer (TCO)
- –Primarily engaged in Terminating Contracts
What is the source of the Governments contracting powers?
The Constitution
What are the advantages of teamwork?
-Able to do more together than alone
-Able to share resources
-Able to brainstorm ideas
Innovation and creativity is enhanced
-Able to create extraordinary results
-Individuals bring their own expertise
What are the disadvantages of teamwork?
- Takes more time
- Takes effort
- Takes patience
- Getting everyone together and listen to all ideas
What are the main E-business tools?
- FedBizOpps
- System for Award Management (SAM)
- DoD Contractor’s Performance Assessment Review System (CPARS)
- Standard Procurement System (SPS)
What system is used to excluded businesses from consideration
EPLS (Excluded Parties List System)
What is the primary vendor database for the US Government?
SAM (System for Award Management)
What is the DPAP?
of Defense Procurement and Acquisition Policy
What are the duties of the DPAP?
DPAP oversees the Defense Acquisition Regulations (DAR) Council
What is the OFPP?
Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP)
What does the OFPP do?
provide overall direction for government-wide procurement policies, regulations and procedures and to promote economy, efficiency and effectiveness in acquisition processes
What is FAR Part 1?
The FAR
Federal Acquisition Regulations System
What is FAR Part 2?
Definitions of Words and Terms
What is FAR Part 7?
Acquisition Planning
What is FAR Part 6?
Competition Requirements
What is FAR Part 19?
Small Business Programs
What is FAR Part 10?
Market Research
What is FAR Part 13?
Simplified Acquisition Procedures
What is FAR Part 12?
Acquisition of Commercial Items
What are the dollar thresholds for J&A approval?
Not Exceeding $700K – Contracting Officer
Over $700K - $13.5 Million – Competition Advocate for the procuring activity (not delegable)
Over $13.5 Million – $93 Million – Head of the Contracting Activity
Over $93 Million – Under Secretary of Defense for AL&T
What is FAR Part 11?
Describing Agency Needs
What is a competition advocate?
- Designated at the agency and each procuring activity
- Promotes the acquisition of commercial items
- Promotes full and open competition
- Helps the agency to meet their small business goals
- Recommends a system of personal and organizational accountability for competition
What is FAR Part 8?
Required Sources of Supply
What is the Small business 8(a) program?
- Companies owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals
- Benefits of program participation is the opportunity to receive “sole source” contracts (not exceeding $6.5 million for goods and services, and $4 million for manufacturing from Government agencies and the opportunity to bid for 8(a) set-aside contracts
- Business may remain in the 8(a) program for 9 years
What is CICA
o Established requirement to use “competitive procedures” in acquiring supplies/services
What is a MAC?
Multi-agency contracts
are Task Order or Delivery Order contracts established by one Agency for use by Government Agencies to obtain a variety of supplies and services. The Economy Act (FAR 17.5>) applies to orders placed under MACs,
What is a GWACS?
Government –wide acquisition contracts
are Task Order or Delivery Order contracts for information technology established by one Agency for Government wide use. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB), pursuant to section 5112(e) of the Information Technology Management Reform Act (ITMRA) and better known as the Clinger-Cohen Act, designates an Executive Agent to operate each GWAC. The Economy Act does not apply when placing orders under GWACs.
What are the three types of competition?
Full and Open
Full and Open after Exclusion of Sources
Other than Full and Open
What is full and open competition?
All responsible sources permitted to compete
What is Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources?
Set-Asides for Small Business Concerns
8(a) Programs
What is Other Than Full and Open Competition?
Sole Source
Limited competition required to meet requirements
Seven statutory exceptions
What are the thresholds for GPC purchases?
$5K Supplies
$5K Services
When does acquisitions planning begin?
As soon as a need is identified
Who is in charge of Acquisition Planning?
The PM, Agency Head, or other designee
What are the colors of money and their obligation periods?
Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) – 2 years
Operations & Maintenance – 1 year
Military Personnel – 1 year
Military Construction – 5 years
Procurement – 3 years
What is an appropriation act?
Provides budgetary authority for a particular purpose
Allows federal agencies to incur obligations and authorize payments from the Treasury.
Annual Fiscal Year (FY) Basis / (Oct-Sep)
- Continuing Resolution Authority (stop gap, if no Appropriation Act)
- May have Supplemental or Emergency Appropriations during the FY
What are two types of market research?
Strategic
Tactical
What are the priorities for Gov’t sources?
- Agency Inventories
- Excess from other agencies
- Federal Prison Industries, Inc. (Also known as UNICOR)
- People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled (NIB/NISH or Ability One)
- Wholesale Supply Sources (www.gsaglobalsupply.gov)
- Mandatory Federal Supply Schedule (www.gsaadvantage.gov)
- Optional use Federal Supply Schedules
- Commercial Sources
What are the priorities for Gov’t services?
- People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled (NIB/NISH or Ability One)
- Mandatory Federal Supply Schedule (www.gsaadvantage.gov)
- Optional use Federal Supply Schedules
- Commercial Sources
