Final Key Cards Round 2 Flashcards
______________ products or services that have a lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment when compared with competing products or services that serve the same purpose. This comparison may consider raw materials acquisition, production, manufacturing, packaging, distribution, reuse, operation, maintenance, or disposal of the product or service.
Environmentally Friendly
Environmentally Conscientious
Environmentally Preferable
Environmentally Advantageous
FAR 2.101
Environmentally Preferable
Where can executive agencies obtain standard and optional forms?
GSA Forms Library
Acquisition.gov
From the prescribing agency
Via internet search
FAR 53.107
GSA Forms Library
Which of the following is correct about the FAR citation 15.506(a)?
15 is the part, 5 is the subpart, 06 is the section, and a is the paragraph.
1 is the part, 5 is the subpart, 506 is the section, and a is the paragraph.
15 is the part, 5 is the subpart, 06 is the paragraph, and a is the sentence.
15 is the part, 50 is the subpart, 6 is the section, and a is the paragraph.
FAR 1.105-2
15 is the part, 5 is the subpart, 06 is the section, and a is the paragraph.
he FAR is prepared, issued, and maintained by:
The Executive Office of the President.
The Office of Management and Budget and the General Services Administration.
The National Contract Management Association.
The Secretary of Defense, the Administrator of General Services, and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
FAR 1.103
The Secretary of Defense, the Administrator of General Services, and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Who is responsible for printing, publishing, and distributing the Federal Acquisition Regulation?
The DAR Council and CAA Council, jointly
The FAR Secretariat, as authorized by GSA
A FAR Representative authorized by the Secretary of Defense
The Administrator of General Services
FAR 1.201-2
The FAR Secretariat, as authorized by GSA
Revisions to the FAR will be prepared and issued through the coordinated action of:
The Defense Logistics Agency and the General Services Administration.
The General Services Administration and the FAR Secretariat.
The Defense Acquisition Regulations Council and the Civilian Acquisition Council.
The FAR Revisions Board and the FAR Secretariat.
FAR 1.201-1
The Defense Acquisition Regulations Council and the Civilian Acquisition Council.
distinct six-position code consisting of a combination of alpha and/or numeric characters assigned to identify specific agency offices, units, activities, or organizations by the General Services Administration for civilian agencies and by the Department of Defense for defense agencies is the:
Activity Address Code (AAC)
Procurement Instrument Identification (PIID)Â
Line Item Number
CAGE Code Number
FAR 2.101
Activity Address Code (AAC)
Governmentwide point of entry (GPE) means the single point where Government business opportunities greater than ___________, including synopses of proposed contract actions, solicitations, and associated information, can be accessed electronically by the public.
35000
20000
35000
25000
FAR 2.101
25000
In the FAR citation “FAR 25.1102(a)(2),” what is referred to by the number 11?
Subsection 25.11
Subpart 25.11
Paragraph 11
Section 11
FAR 1.105-2
Subpart 25.11
Where can you make a recommendation for a new form if you are not affiliated with an executive agency?
Government Accountability Office
General Services Administration
the FAR Secretariat
Recommendations are not permitted
FAR 53.108
the FAR Secretariat
hen might contracting offices request exceptions to standard forms?
Overprinting forms
Computer generated forms
Special construction and printing forms
Continuation sheets
FAR 53.106
Overprinting forms
FAR PART 1, FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATIONS SYSTEM
FAR Part 1 provides you the basics of how the Federal Acquisition Regulation works, including its purpose, applicability, arrangement, and numbering.
What is the Federal Acquisition Regulation?
The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) is a set of instructions written for federal employees conducting
“acquisitions,” or buying goods and services. This acquisition process is also called contracting, procurement, purchasing, or “buying stuff.”
The FAR explains to the government employees
—mostly government contracting officers-what processes to follow when “buying stuff” on behalf of the federal agency. For example, the FAR prescribes which clauses to insert depending on the substance and purpose of a federal contract.
FAR PART 1, FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATIONS SYSTEM
FAR Part 1 provides you the basics of how the Federal Acquisition Regulation works, including its purpose, applicability, arrangement, and numbering.
What are the guiding principles of the FAR?
The guiding principles of the FAR are as follows:
Satisfy the federal client in terms of cost, quality, and delivery.
Maximize the use of commercial products and commercial services.
Select contractors with good past performance or the ability to perform.
Promote competition among contractors.
Conduct business with integrity, fairness, and transparency.
Fulfill government policy objectives.
FAR PART 1, FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATIONS SYSTEM
FAR Part 1 provides you the basics of how the Federal Acquisition Regulation works, including its purpose, applicability, arrangement, and numbering
What is the most interesting section in the FAR?
The most interesting section is FAR 1.102-5(e), which states the following:
“If a policy or procedure, or a particular strategy or practice, is in the best interest of the Government and is not specifically addressed in the FAR, nor prohibited by law (statute or case law), Executive order or other regulation, Government members of the Team should not assume it is prohibited.
Rather, absence of direction should be interpreted as permitting the Team to innovate and use sound business judgment that is otherwise consistent with law and within the limits of their authority.
Contracting officers should take the lead in encouraging business process innovations and ensuring that business decisions are sound.”
FAR PART 1, FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATIONS SYSTEM
FAR Part 1 provides you the basics of how the Federal Acquisition Regulation works, including its purpose, applicability, arrangement, and numbering
To whom does the FAR apply?
The FAR applies to federal employees conducting acquisitions, a function otherwise known ascontracting, procurement, purchasing, or “buying stuff.” The FAR is written primarily for contracting officers, who have the authority to sign, modify, administer, and terminate contracts on behalf of the federal government.
FAR PART 1, FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATIONS SYSTEM
FAR Part 1 provides you the basics of how the Federal Acquisition Regulation works, including its purpose, applicability, arrangement, and numbering
Where can I find the official text of the FAR?
The official, online source of the FAR is www.acquisition.gov, which is maintained by the General Services Administration. However, I must warn you: I have found several errors over the years in this “official” source. For that reason, although www.acquisition.gov is convenient and easy to use, I do not trust it fully.
Another official source for any regulation, including the FAR, is the electronic Code of Federal Regulations,
available online at www.ecfr.gov. Many other websites reproduce the FAR or discuss the FAR. Just remember that the official website for the FAR is www.acquisition.gov and the official website for all regulations, including the FAR, is www.ecfr.gov.
FAR PART 1, FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATIONS SYSTEM
FAR Part 1 provides you the basics of how the Federal Acquisition Regulation works, including its purpose, applicability, arrangement, and numbering
What is the Code of Federal Regulations?
The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) is the organized set of all federal regulations, including the FAR. The CFR is organized by titles and chapter. The FAR is Chapter 1 of Title 48 of the CFR.
FAR PART 1, FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATIONS SYSTEM
FAR Part 1 provides you the basics of how the Federal Acquisition Regulation works, including its purpose, applicability, arrangement, and numbering
Is there a pattern I can recognize in every single FAR clause in my government contract?
A simple pattern applies to all FAR clauses, telling you the origin and purpose of each FAR clause. Every FAR clause starts with 52 because all FAR clauses are found in FAR Part 52. After the number 52, every FAR clause has a period or dot, then three numbers, then a dash, then more numbers. Pay attention to the first three numbers after the period.
FAR PART 1, FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATIONS SYSTEM
FAR Part 1 provides you the basics of how the Federal Acquisition Regulation works, including its purpose, applicability, arrangement, and numbering
Why should I pay attention to the first three numbers after the period in the FAR clause?
Of those three numbers, the first will be the number two. That detail is not important. But the second and third numbers tell you something very important about the FAR clause.
FAR PART 1, FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATIONS SYSTEM
FAR Part 1 provides you the basics of how the Federal Acquisition Regulation works, including its purpose, applicability, arrangement, and numbering
What do the second and third numbers indicate?
If the FAR clause starts with 52.219, that clause derives from FAR Part 19, Small Business Programs.
Ignore the 52 and ignore the number two after the period. You are left with 19, which tells you that FAR clause comes from FAR Part 19, Small Business Programs. Another example is a FAR clause that starts with 52.249. Any FAR clause that starts with 52.249 derives from FAR Part 49, Termination of Contracts.
FAR PART 1, FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATIONS SYSTEM
FAR Part 1 provides you the basics of how the Federal Acquisition Regulation works, including its purpose, applicability, arrangement, and numbering
How should you interpret imperative sentences within the FAR?
If you read an “imperative sentence” in the FAR, or a
sentence that requires action, the general rule is that the contracting officer is responsible for this action.
Unless another person or party is expressly listed as responsible, the contracting officer is responsible by default.
FAR PART 1, FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATIONS SYSTEM
FAR Part 1 provides you the basics of how the Federal Acquisition Regulation works, including its purpose, applicability, arrangement, and numbering
What is a deviation?
A deviation occurs when the government breaks the rules of the FAR in any one of several specific ways, such as the following:
Including a contract clause that is inconsistent with
the FAR
Including a solicitation provision that is inconsistent
with the FAR
Failing to include a clause or provision when the FAR requires it
Using unauthorized, “modified” versions of clauses or provisions
Think of a deviation as a limitation of the power of federal agencies, which are supposed to follow the FAR. If the agency starts “home-brewing” its own FAR clauses, this practice diminishes the authority of the FAR system and creates confusion in the government contracting industry.
FAR PART 1, FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATIONS SYSTEM
FAR Part 1 provides you the basics of how the Federal Acquisition Regulation works, including its purpose, applicability, arrangement, and numbering
What is a ratification?
A ratification is the formal process whereby an agency
“fixes” an unauthorized commitment using the approval of a federal employee who has the authority to sign the original contract.
FAR PART 1, FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATIONS SYSTEM
FAR Part 1 provides you the basics of how the Federal Acquisition Regulation works, including its purpose, applicability, arrangement, and numbering
What is a determination and findings (D&F)?
A determination and findings (D&F) is a formal memo in a special format, signed by the appropriate federal employee, who is often the contracting officer. Some actions or decisions require a D&F to document that the contracting officer thoroughly examined and considered the action or decision. In the D&F, the “determination” (conclusion, decision to act) is supported by the “findings” (facts, data, or evidence).
FAR PART 52, SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES
FAR Part 52 contains all the standard contract clauses and solicitation provisions.
What is the difference between a clause and provision?
Clauses go in the contract. Provisions go in the solicitation. Therefore, we call them contract clauses and solicitation provisions. There may be some overlap, such as when a contract clause is found in both the solicitation and resulting contract, but that overlap is to give every potential contractor notice that the clause will apply. If you see the contract clause in the solicitation, that indicates any resulting contract will also include the clause.
FAR PART 52, SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES
FAR Part 52 contains all the standard contract clauses and solicitation provisions.
What is the secret code of all FAR clause numbers?
If the FAR clause starts with 52.219, that clause derives from FAR Part 19, Small Business Programs.
Ignore the 52 and ignore the number two after the period. You are left with 19, which tells you that FAR clause comes from FAR Part 19. Another example is a FAR clause that starts with 52.249. Any FAR clause that starts with 52.249 derives from FAR Part 49, Termination of Contracts.
FAR PART 52, SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES
FAR Part 52 contains all the standard contract clauses and solicitation provisions.
Why should I care about the FAR Part that corresponds to the FAR clause?
Each FAR clause has specific directions to the contracting officer about when to insert the clause.
This detail helps you understand the purpose of the
FAR clause and gives you negotiating leverage if you want to remove it before signing the contract.