Plan Sales and Prepare Offer

Question 1

Why is it important to describe the agency’s needs in terms of function, performance requirements, or essential physical characteristics?

Answer 1

Describing the agency’s needs in these terms allows offerors to propose methods that will best meet the needs of the Government.

Question 2

What is the Government-wide Point of Entry (GPE) according to FAR 2.101?

Answer 2

The GPE is the single point where Government business opportunities greater than $25,000, including synopses of proposed contract actions, solicitations, and associated information, can be accessed electronically by the public.

Question 3

Under what conditions is the use of a paper solicitation or contract required according to FAR 12.204?

Answer 3

The acquisition is expected to exceed the Simplified Acquisition Threshold, a paper solicitation or contract is being issued, and procedures at FAR 12.603 are not being used.

Question 4

What does the FAR call for to ensure consistency in solicitations and contracts?

Answer 4

The FAR calls for the use of a Uniform Contract Format (UCF) to the maximum practicable extent.

Question 5

What basic information is included in the Standard Form 1449?

Answer 5

The solicitation number, a Government point of contact (name and phone number), and the offer due date and time.

Question 6

What are the sections included in the Uniform Contract Format (UCF) as per FAR 15.204-1?

Answer 6

Section A: Solicitation/Contract Form, Section B: Supplies or Services and Prices/Costs, Section C: Descriptions/Specifications/Statement of Work, Section D: Packaging and Marking, Section E: Inspection and Acceptance, Section F: Deliveries or Performance.

Question 7

What form must the contracting officer use according to FAR 12.204(a) for commercial acquisitions not exceeding the SAT?

Answer 7

The contracting officer shall use the Standard Form 1449, Solicitation/Contract/Order for Commercial Items.

Question 8

For commercial acquisitions that exceed the Simplified Acquisition Threshold, what form should be used?

Answer 8

The Standard Form 1449 should be used for commercial acquisitions exceeding the Simplified Acquisition Threshold.

Question 9

What are the three levels of competition as detailed in FAR part 6?

Answer 9

The three levels of competition are: Full and Open Competition (FAR subpart 6.1), Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources (FAR subpart 6.2), and Other Than Full and Open Competition (FAR subpart 6.3).

Question 10

What is ‘Buying-in’ in the context of government contracting?

Answer 10

‘Buying-in’ refers to a strategy where a contractor submits an offer below anticipated costs, expecting to gain opportunities for performing on government contracts.

Question 11

Why might the Government be agreeable to contractor team arrangements?

Answer 11

The Government might be agreeable to these arrangements because they may enable the companies involved to complement each other’s unique capabilities.

Question 12

What is defined as a ‘Contractor team arrangement’ according to FAR 9.601?

Answer 12

A contractor team arrangement is an arrangement in which two or more companies form a partnership or joint venture to act as a potential prime contractor, or a potential prime contractor agrees with one or more other companies to have them act as its subcontractors under a specified Government contract or acquisition program.

Question 13

What are potential negative outcomes of contractor team arrangements as mentioned in FAR 9.602(a)?

Answer 13

Potential negative outcomes include increasing the contract amount after award through unnecessary or excessively priced change orders, or receiving follow-on contracts at artificially high prices to recover losses incurred on the buy-in contract.

Question 14

What must contracting officers do to prevent buying-in losses from being recovered through pricing of change-orders and follow-on contracts?

Answer 14

Contracting officers must take appropriate action to ensure buying-in losses are not recovered by the contractor through the pricing of change-orders and follow-on contracts subject to cost analysis.

Question 15

What should the Government do to minimize the opportunity for buying-in?

Answer 15

The Government should seek a price commitment covering as much of the entire program concerned as is practical.

Question 16

What organizational capabilities must a contractor possess to be deemed responsible?

Answer 16

Have the necessary organization, experience, accounting and operational controls, and technical skills, or the ability to obtain them.

Question 17

What must a contractor be able to comply with regarding delivery or performance schedules?

Answer 17

Be able to comply with the required or proposed delivery or performance schedule, considering all existing commercial and governmental business commitments.

Question 18

What is one of the seven standards a contractor must meet to be considered responsible according to FAR 9.104-1?

Answer 18

Offer the Government the best combination of performance, cost, and delivery for the system or product being acquired.

Question 19

According to FAR 9.103(a), what is the requirement for awarding contracts to contractors?

Answer 19

Purchases shall be made from, and contracts shall be awarded to, responsible prospective contractors only.

Question 20

What financial requirement must a contractor meet to be deemed responsible?

Answer 20

Have adequate financial resources to perform the contract, or the ability to obtain them.

Question 21

What ethical standard must a contractor meet to be considered responsible?

Answer 21

Have a satisfactory record of integrity and business ethics.

Question 22

What type of record must a prospective contractor have to be considered responsible?

Answer 22

A satisfactory performance record.

Question 23

Can a contractor be deemed nonresponsible solely based on a lack of relevant performance history?

Answer 23

No, a prospective contractor shall not be determined responsible or nonresponsible solely on the basis of a lack of relevant performance history, except as provided in FAR 9.104-2.

Question 24

When can a fixed-price contract with economic price adjustment be used according to FAR 16.203-2?

Answer 24

It can be used when there is serious doubt concerning the stability of market or labor conditions during an extended period of contract performance, and when contingencies that would otherwise be included in the contract price can be identified and covered separately.

Question 25

What qualifications must a contractor have to be eligible for a fixed-price contract with economic price adjustment?

Answer 25

The contractor must have the necessary production, construction, and technical equipment and facilities, or the ability to obtain them, and must be otherwise qualified and eligible to receive an award under applicable laws and regulations.

Question 26

What is a fixed-price contract with economic price adjustment?

Answer 26

It is a contract type that allows for upward and downward revision of the stated contract price upon the occurrence of specified contingencies.

Question 27

What are the three criteria that contractor submitted costs must meet according to FAR part 31?

Answer 27

Costs must be Allowable, Allocable, and Reasonable.

Question 28

What does FAR 31.201-6(a) state regarding unallowable costs?

Answer 28

Costs that are expressly unallowable or mutually agreed to be unallowable must be identified and excluded from any billing, claim, or proposal applicable to a Government contract.

Question 29

Can government officials meet one-on-one with potential offerors?

Answer 29

Yes, government officials can generally meet one-on-one with potential offerors as long as no vendor receives preferential treatment.

Question 30

Are industry days and similar events valuable for industry and the Government?

Answer 30

Yes, well-organized industry days and pre-solicitation conferences are valuable opportunities for both industry and the Government.

Question 31

Does restricting communication with industry prevent protests?

Answer 31

No, restricting communication won’t prevent a protest and might actually increase the chance of a protest.

Question 32

What should the government focus on to improve vendor participation?

Answer 32

The government should look for opportunities to increase competition and ensure that all vendors, including small businesses, get fair consideration.

Question 33

What is the misconception regarding vendor participation in government contracting?

Answer 33

The misconception is that getting broad participation by many different vendors is too difficult, and it’s better to deal with established companies.

Question 34

What is the consequence of limiting vendor participation in government contracting?

Answer 34

The Government loses when it limits itself to companies it already works with, as it reduces competition and fair consideration for all vendors, including small businesses.

Question 35

What is it called when competition is limited to establish or maintain an alternative source?

Answer 35

It is called ‘Other than full and open competition.’

Question 36

What are the characteristics of a responsible contractor? (Select 4 that apply)

Answer 36

1. Has adequate financial resources or the ability to obtain them 2. Is able to comply with the required or proposed delivery or performance schedule 3. Has a satisfactory performance record 4. Has a satisfactory record of integrity and business ethics

Question 37

When might a fixed-price contract with economic price adjustment be applicable? (Select 2 that apply)

Answer 37

1. Market or labor conditions are volatile 2. Contingencies that would otherwise be included in the contract price cannot be identified and covered separately in the contract.

Question 38

What costs must be identified and excluded from any billing, claim, or proposal applicable to a Government contract?

Answer 38

Costs that are expressly unallowable or mutually agreed to be unallowable.