Plan Sales and Prepare Offer Flashcards
Why is it important to describe the agency’s needs in terms of function, performance requirements, or essential physical characteristics?
Describing the agency’s needs in these terms allows offerors to propose methods that will best meet the needs of the Government.
What is the Government-wide Point of Entry (GPE) according to FAR 2.101?
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.
Under what conditions is the use of a paper solicitation or contract required according to FAR 12.204?
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.
What does the FAR call for to ensure consistency in solicitations and contracts?
The FAR calls for the use of a Uniform Contract Format (UCF) to the maximum practicable extent.
What basic information is included in the Standard Form 1449?
The solicitation number, a Government point of contact (name and phone number), and the offer due date and time.
What are the sections included in the Uniform Contract Format (UCF) as per FAR 15.204-1?
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.
What form must the contracting officer use according to FAR 12.204(a) for commercial acquisitions not exceeding the SAT?
The contracting officer shall use the Standard Form 1449, Solicitation/Contract/Order for Commercial Items.
For commercial acquisitions that exceed the Simplified Acquisition Threshold, what form should be used?
The Standard Form 1449 should be used for commercial acquisitions exceeding the Simplified Acquisition Threshold.
What are the three levels of competition as detailed in FAR part 6?
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).
What is ‘Buying-in’ in the context of government contracting?
‘Buying-in’ refers to a strategy where a contractor submits an offer below anticipated costs, expecting to gain opportunities for performing on government contracts.
Why might the Government be agreeable to contractor team arrangements?
The Government might be agreeable to these arrangements because they may enable the companies involved to complement each other’s unique capabilities.
What is defined as a ‘Contractor team arrangement’ according to FAR 9.601?
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.
What are potential negative outcomes of contractor team arrangements as mentioned in FAR 9.602(a)?
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.
What must contracting officers do to prevent buying-in losses from being recovered through pricing of change-orders and follow-on contracts?
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.
What should the Government do to minimize the opportunity for buying-in?
The Government should seek a price commitment covering as much of the entire program concerned as is practical.
What organizational capabilities must a contractor possess to be deemed responsible?
Have the necessary organization, experience, accounting and operational controls, and technical skills, or the ability to obtain them.
What must a contractor be able to comply with regarding delivery or performance schedules?
Be able to comply with the required or proposed delivery or performance schedule, considering all existing commercial and governmental business commitments.
What is one of the seven standards a contractor must meet to be considered responsible according to FAR 9.104-1?
Offer the Government the best combination of performance, cost, and delivery for the system or product being acquired.
According to FAR 9.103(a), what is the requirement for awarding contracts to contractors?
Purchases shall be made from, and contracts shall be awarded to, responsible prospective contractors only.
What financial requirement must a contractor meet to be deemed responsible?
Have adequate financial resources to perform the contract, or the ability to obtain them.
What ethical standard must a contractor meet to be considered responsible?
Have a satisfactory record of integrity and business ethics.
What type of record must a prospective contractor have to be considered responsible?
A satisfactory performance record.
Can a contractor be deemed nonresponsible solely based on a lack of relevant performance history?
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.
When can a fixed-price contract with economic price adjustment be used according to FAR 16.203-2?
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.
