FAR Part 39

Question 1

Part 39

Answer 1

Acquisition of Information Technology

Question 2

Part 39 Acquisition of Information Technology

Overview of FAR Part 39 - Acquisition of Information Technology

Purpose: Establishes policies and procedures for acquiring
information technology (IT) (FAR 39.000).

Key Sections:

Answer 2

• 39.1 General
• 39.2 Electronic and Information Technology

Question 3

Part 39 Acquisition of Information Technology

Subpart 39.1 - General

Purpose: Provides general policies for IT acquisition (FAR 39.101).

Key Features:

Answer 3

Emphasizes the importance of strategic planning and management in IT
acquisitions (FAR 39.102).

Requires adherence to federal IT standards and guidelines (FAR 39.103).

Question 4

Part 39 Acquisition of Information Technology

Subpart 39.1 - IT Strategic Planning and Management

Purpose: Highlights the importance of strategic planning and
management in IT acquisitions (FAR 39.102).

Key Features:

Answer 4

Ensures that IT investments are aligned with agency goals and objectives (FAR
39.102(a)).

Promotes the use of enterprise architecture to guide IT acquisitions (FAR 39.102(b)).

Question 5

Part 39 Acquisition of Information Technology

Subpart 39.2 - Electronic and Information Technology

Purpose: Addresses the acquisition of electronic and information
technology (EIT) with a focus on accessibility (FAR 39.201).

Key Features:

Answer 5

Requirements for ensuring EIT accessibility for individuals with disabilities (FAR
39.202).

Guidelines for incorporating accessibility standards into IT acquisitions (FAR 39.203).

Question 6

Part 39 Acquisition of Information Technology

Subpart 39.2 - Incorporating Accessibility into IT Acquisitions

Purpose: Provides guidelines for incorporating accessibility standards
into IT acquisitions (FAR 39.203).

Key Features:

Answer 6

Mandates compliance with accessibility standards to ensure EIT solutions are
usable by individuals with disabilities (FAR 39.203(a)).

Requires agencies to evaluate and test EIT solutions for accessibility (FAR 39.203(b)).

Question 7

What Is Information Technology?

Information technology (IT)

Answer 7

The hardware and software operated by a federal agency, a contractor of a federal agency, or other organization that processes information on behalf of the federal government to accomplish a federal function, regardless of the technology involved, whether computers, telecommunications, or others

Any equipment or interconnected system or subsystem of equipment that is used
ni the automatic acquisition, storage, manipulation, management, movement, control, display, switching, interchange, transmission, or reception of data or information by the executive agency

Includes computers, ancillary equipment, software, firmware, services, and related resources

Question 8

Preparing an Acquisition Plan for InformationTechnology

Agency requirements shall be identified considering:

Answer 8

• OMB Circular A-130
• Security of resources
• Protection of privacy
  National security
  Emergency preparedness
  Accommodation of disabilities
• Energy efficiency

NOTE: Contracting officers shall
not procure or obtain, extend or renew a contract or enter into a
contract for any equipment,
system, or service that uses covered telecommunications
equipment or services as defined in FAR 4.101.

Question 9

National security system

Answer 9

Any telecommunications or information system operated by the United States government, the function, operation, or use of which

• Involves intelligence activities
• Involves cryptologic activities related to national security * Involves command and control of military forces
• Involves equipment that is an integral part of a weapon or weapons system; or * Is critical to the direct fulfillment of military or intelligence missions

FAR Part 39 does not apply to acquisition of TI for national security systems

Question 10

Preparing an Acquisition Plan for InformationTechnology

Agency requirements shall be identified considering:

Answer 10

• EPEAT® standards
• Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool
• Policies for energy efficiency in electronic products * Examples: power management, double-sided printing
• Energy-efficient management of servers and data centers

Question 11

Preparing an Acquisition Plan for InformationTechnology

Agency requirements shall be identified considering:

Answer 11

Rapid c h a n g e s in information technology

• Use of market research
• Use of technology refreshment techniques

Question 12

Preparing an Acquisition Plan for InformationTechnology

Reasonable risk, including

Answer 12

• Schedule risk
• Risk of technical obsolescence
• Cost risk
• Risk implicit in contract type
• Technical feasibility
• Dependencies on or of other systems
• Number of simultaneous projects
• Availability of funding
• Program management risk

Question 13

Modular contracting

Answer 13

The use of one or more contracts to acquire information technology systems ni successive, interoperable increments

Intended to:
* Reduce program risk
* Incentivize contractor performance
* Meet the government’s need for timely access to
rapidly changing technology

Should be used to acquire information technology to the maximum extent practicable

Question 14

Establishing Minimum Experience and Education Requirements

Answer 14

Solicitations for information technology services must not describe any minimum
experience or educational requirements, unless the agency needs:
* Cannot be met without that requirement, or
* Would require the use of other than performance-based acquisition.

Question 15

Information Technology Laws

Privacy Act of 1974

Answer 15

Privacy Act of 1974
No agency shall disclose any record which is contained in a system
of records by any means of communication to any person, or to another agency, except pursuant to a written request by, or with the prior written consent of, the individual to whom the record pertains

Question 16

Information Technology Laws

Federal Records Act of 1950

Answer 16

Defines federal records, mandated the creation and preservation of
those records necessary ot document federal activities, establishes government ownership of records, and provides the exclusive legal
Ref.: FAR 39.105
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procedures for the disposition of records

Question 17

Information Technology Laws

Freedom of Information Act

Answer 17

Freedomo fInformationAct
Allows for the full or partial disclosure of previously unreleased
information and documents controlled by the government; defines agency records subject to disclosure, and outlines mandatory disclosure procedures and exemptions

Question 18

Information Technology Laws

Agencies shall ensure that contracts for information technology address privacy protection by containing:

Answer 18

Rules of conduct for the contractor and its employees

A list of anticipated threats and hazards

Specific safeguards that the contractor must provide

Requirements for a program of government inspection of
safeguards against threats and hazards, to be done during contract performance

Question 19

Access for People with Disabilities

Answer 19

Section 5 0 8 Accessibility Program
https://www.section508.gov/

Agencies must ensure that federal employees with disabilities have access to and use of information and data, and

Members of the public with disabilities seeking information or services from an agency have access to and use of information and data

Question 20

MODULAR CONTRACTING

Answer 20

is the use of one or more contracts to acquire information technology systems in successive, interoperable increments.

Question 21

NATIONAL SECURITY SYSTEM means

Answer 21

means any telecommunications or information system operated by the U.S. government, the function, operation, or use of which involves intelligence activities; cryptologic activities related to national defense, command, and control of military forces; equipment that is an integral part of a weapon system; or is critical to the direct fulfillment of military or intelligence missions.

Agencies shall ensure that contracts for information technology address protection of privacy in accordance with the Privacy Act.

Question 22

Prior to entering a contract for information technology, an agency should

Answer 22

analyze risks, benefits, and costs. Reasonable risk-taking is appropriate if risks are controlled and mitigated.

Types of risk may include schedule risk, risk of technical obsolescence, cost risk, risk implicit in a particular contract type, technical feasibility, dependencies between a new project and other projects or systems, the number of simultaneous high-risk projects to be monitored, funding availability, and program management risk.

Appropriate techniques should be applied to manage and mitigate risk during the acquisition of information technology.

Question 23

Modular contracting is intended to

Answer 23

reduce program risk and to incentivize contractor performance while meeting the government’s need for timely access to rapidly changing technology.

Consistent with the agency’s information technology architecture, agencies should, to the maximum extent practicable, use modular contracting to acquire major systems of information technology.

Agencies may also use modular contracting to acquire nonmajor systems of information technology.

The characteristics of an increment used in modular contracting may vary depending upon the type of information technology being acquired and the nature of the system being developed.

Question 24

To promote compatibility, the information technology acquired through modular contracting for each increment should

Answer 24

comply with common or commercially acceptable information technology standards when available and appropriate and shall conform to the agency’s master information technology architecture.

Additionally, the performance requirements of each increment should be consistent with the performance requirements of the completed, overall system within which the information technology will function and should address interface requirements with succeeding increments.

For each increment, contracting officers shall choose an appropriate contracting technique that facilitates the acquisition of subsequent increments. Contracts shall be structured to ensure that the government is not required to procure additional increments.

Question 25

To avoid obsolescence, a modular contract for information technology should be awarded

Answer 25

within 180 days after the day the solicitation is issued. If award cannot be made within 180 days, agencies should consider cancellation of the solicitation. To the maximum extent practicable, deliveries under the contract should be scheduled to occur within 18 months after issuance of the solicitation.

Question 26

B. ELECTRONIC AND INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY (FAR 39.2)

This subpart implements section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. This ensures that both federal employees with disabilities and members of the public seeking service from the government have

Answer 26

equal access to technology as nondisabled members of the public and employees.

This requirement does not apply if the electronic and information technology (EIT) is a micro-purchase; is for a national security system;
is acquired by a contractor incidental to a contract; is in spaces frequented only by service personnel for maintenance, repair, or occasional monitoring of equipment; or would impose an undue burden on the agency.