Contracting Exam 2 Flashcards
What are the response times for Solicitations?
30 days (reasonable amount of time)
-KO may combine synopsis/solicitation for commercial items
45 days for R&D actions that exceed the SAT ($150K)
Publicizing Contracting Actions is which FAR Part?
FAR Part 5
What is a Synopsis?
A “snapshot” of the requirement that the government is trying to fulfill. Examples of included data: -Description of action -Quantity -Place of performance -Competition requirement -Date the solicitation will be published
True or False: A synopsis is posted on FedBizOpps?
TRUE
What are the exceptions to publicizing?
- Synopsis cannot be worded to preclude disclosure of an agency’s needs and disclosure would compromise national security
- Unusual and compelling urgency
- Foreign Military Sales (if source directed)
- Required by statute
What is the preferred method of describing requirements?
Performance Work Statement (PWS)
Sealed Bidding is in which FAR part?
FAR Part 14 (Invitation For Bids)
True of False: The primary method of contract for construction is Sealed Bidding
TRUE
What is a Construction Contracting?
- Definition – Construction means construction, alteration, or repair (including dredging, excavating and painting) of buildings, structures, or other real property
- Primary method of contract for construction is sealed bidding
- Must prepare a performance evaluation for all contracts over $700,000 and for any construction contract, regardless of value, if terminated for default. FAR 42.1502(e).
What is the Buy American Act?
- Buy U.S. products over foreign manufacture
- Supports U.S. socio-economic goals
- Exceptions to the Act:
- Are for use outside the US
- Unreasonable cost
- Domestic preference inconsistent with public interest
- Are not mined, produced or manufactured in the US in sufficient quantities
- Purchased specifically for commissary resale
What is a Commercial Item
Item that has been or will be sold to the general public; may require minor government directed modifications
What is a D&F?
Determination and Findings- Rationale for business decisions made concerning the acquisition (i.e. Exercising option years)
When is a Justification and Approval (J&A) required?
Sole Source Requirement
What is a CLIN?
Contract Line Item Number: Specify the products or services being procured.
What information goes into a CLIN?
- Unit price
- Item Description
- Delivery schedule
- Accounting Classification
What contract is used when it is not possible, at the time of award, to accurately estimate the extent or duration of the work or to anticipate future costs with a degree of confidence?
Time and Materials
What FAR covers Multi-year and Multiple year (Special Contracting Methods) contracts?
FAR Part 17
Supply/Service contracts will not exceed how many years?
5 years
To exercise an option you need what written justification?
D&F (Determination & Findings)
Cost reimbursable contracts require vendors to provide what type of outcome?
Best Effort
There’s a serious doubt about the stability of market or labor and conditions during an extended period during a specified contingency, a recommended fixed price contract type to use is what?
Fixed Price with an Economic Price Adjustment
What is a Multiyear contract?
- A contract for the purchase of supplies or services for more than 1, but not more than 5, program years
- Requires congressional approval
What is a Multiple Year contract?
- Not the same as Multi-year contracts
- May be IDIQ contracts or contracts with annual options
- Does NOT require Congressional Approval
Contracting Officer may exercise options only after determining that:
- *Funds are available
- Option fulfills an existing need
- Option is the most advantageous method of fulfilling the need
- Option was synopsized IAW FAR Part 5
- *Determination and Findings
- Supply/Service contracts will not exceed 5 years (Base year plus 4 option years)
A contract for SUPPLIES that does not procure or specify a firm quantity of supplies and that provides for the issuance of orders for the delivery of supplies during the period of the contract is a ?
Delivery Order contract
A contract for SERVICES that does not procure or specify a firm quantity of services and that provides for the issuance of orders for the performance of tasks during the period of the contract is a ?
Task Order contract
Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ Contract)
- An IDIQ contract provides for the procurement of an indefinite quantity of supplies and/or services
- Seller furnishes Guaranteed Minimum Amount (number of units or dollar amount)
- Contains Maximum or “Ceiling Price” limiting total value of the contract
Contract Types is covered in which FAR Part?
FAR Part 16
Types of Fixed Priced contracts
- Firm fixed price (FFP)
- Fixed price with economic price adjustment (FP EPA)
- Firm fixed price, level of effort term (FFP LOE)
- Fixed price incentive fee (FPIF)
Types of Cost Reimbursement contracts
- Cost Plus Incentive Fee (CPIF)
- Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF)- New product Dev. & Test
- Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF)
Sealed Bidding generally utilizes which major contract type?
Firm Fixed
What are the Solicitation Types?
- Request for Quotation (RFQ) – Simplified Acquisition Procedures - FAR Part 13
- Invitation for Bid (IFB) – Sealed Bidding – FAR Part 14
- Request for Proposal (RFP) – Negotiation – FAR Part 15
What is a BOA?
A Basic Ordering Agreement (BOA) is a written instrument of understanding, negotiated between an agency, contracting activity, or office and a contractor.
-May be used to expedite contracting for uncertain requirements
**BOAs are not contracts
What is a BPA?
A blanket purchase agreement (BPA) is a simplified method of filling anticipated REPETITIVE NEEDS for supplies or services by establishing “charge accounts’’ with qualified sources of supply.
Sealed Bidding is covered in which FAR Part?
FAR Part 14
*Must be fixed price
Negotiations is covered in which FAR Part?
FAR Part 15
Which type of contract requires a vendor to give their “best effort”?
Cost Reimbursement
Why does the gov’t publicize?
In order to drive competition
What are the two major contract types?
Fixed Price
Cost Reimbursable
Types of Cost Reimbursable Contracts?
Cost Plus Incentive Fee (CPIF)
Cost Plus Fixed Fee
Cost Plus Award Fee
Time and Materials
What are the two most common types of best Value evaluations?
- Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA): Award is made to lowest priced acceptable offeror. Government has decided lowest price is the best value
- Tradeoff: Award may be made to any acceptable offeror based on integrated assessment of all evaluation factors in addition to cost/price
What is FAR Part 13?
Simplified Acquisition Procedures
What is Far Part 14?
Sealed Bidding
What is Far Part 15?
Contracting by Negotiation
What is Far Part 16?
Types of Contracts?
What is Far Part 17?
Special Contracting Methods
What is Far Part 11?
Describing Agency Needs
What is Far Part 5?
Publicizing Contract Action
Types of Firm Fixed Contracts?
Firm Fixed Price (FFP)
Firm Fixed Price with Econmic Adjustment (FP EPA)
Firm Fixed Price, Level of Effort Term (FFP LOE)
Fixed Firm Incentive Fee (FPIF)
__________ is often referred to the as the evaluating and choosing the course of action.
Decision Making
What are the Basic Problem/Decision Making Steps?
1) Define the Problem:
2) Analyze Potential Causes
3) Identify Possible Solutions:
4) Analyze and compare alternatives
5) Select an alternative(s)
6) Implement the selected alternative(s) and Evaluate Progress
What are the types of brainstorming?
- Structured brainstorming
- Free-form brainstorming
- Silent-brainstorming
What are the advantages of Silent Brainstorming?
- Prevents disruptive analysis
- More open if anonymous
What is the disadvantage of Silent Brainstorming
-Group loses synergy that comes from open session
_______ means award will be made based on factors other than just cost or price.
Best Value
What time of contract would you use for fuel?
FFP - EA
Who assumes risk for each major type of contact?
FP - Contractor
CR - Gov’t
What is a problem statement?
o Used to Document/Define a Problem or Opportunity o Divided into three parts: -Current Situation -Impact -Desired Status
