ASO Federal Acquisition Regulations 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A federal security contract requires an armed officer to carry a firearm. Under FAR, the requirement for the officer to be licensed to carry is typically found in:
- The Price Schedule
- The Performance Work Statement (PWS) (Correct answer)
- The Contract Data Requirements List
- The Small Business Subcontracting Plan
Correct answer: The Performance Work Statement (PWS)
Specific performance requirements such as firearms licensing, certifications, and training are detailed in the Performance Work Statement.
Question 2: Under FAR Part 46, a Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) for a security contract is primarily used by:
- The contractor to train guards
- The contracting officer's representative to monitor contractor performance (Correct answer)
- The union to file grievances
- The guard to log patrol activities
Correct answer: The contracting officer's representative to monitor contractor performance
The QASP is the government's tool for the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) to systematically measure and document contractor performance.
Question 3: If a security contractor fails to meet the staffing levels required by a federal contract, the government may assess:
- Criminal penalties under federal law
- Liquidated damages or deductions as defined in the contract (Correct answer)
- Automatic contract termination
- Fines set by the Department of Labor
Correct answer: Liquidated damages or deductions as defined in the contract
Federal security contracts typically include liquidated damages clauses specifying dollar deductions for each hour or shift a post is not filled.
Question 4: Under FAR, the period during which a contractor must maintain records related to a security services contract after final payment is generally:
- 1 year
- 3 years (Correct answer)
- 5 years
- 10 years
Correct answer: 3 years
FAR 4.703 generally requires contractors to retain contract records for 3 years after final payment, though some records have longer retention periods.
Question 5: A federal security officer notices a potential safety hazard at the post. Under FAR's contractor safety obligations, the proper first action is to:
- Immediately leave the post
- Report the hazard through the contractor's chain of command and, if required, to the contracting officer's representative (Correct answer)
- Call OSHA directly
- Ignore it unless instructed otherwise
Correct answer: Report the hazard through the contractor's chain of command and, if required, to the contracting officer's representative
FAR requires contractors to maintain safe work conditions; safety issues should be reported through the contractor's management and to the government's COR as contractually required.
Question 6: Which FAR provision requires security contractors to verify that employees are eligible to work in the United States?
- FAR 52.222-54 (Employment Eligibility Verification) (Correct answer)
- FAR 52.204-9 (Personal Identity Verification)
- FAR 52.215-2 (Audit and Records)
- FAR 52.203-7 (Anti-Kickback Procedures)
Correct answer: FAR 52.222-54 (Employment Eligibility Verification)
FAR 52.222-54 requires federal contractors to use E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all employees assigned to the contract.
Question 7: Under FAR, a 'base period' plus 'option years' in a security contract means:
- The contract automatically renews unless cancelled
- The government can extend the contract for additional periods at its discretion (Correct answer)
- The contractor must perform for all option years
- Option years are exercised only if the contractor requests them
Correct answer: The government can extend the contract for additional periods at its discretion
Option years give the government the unilateral right to extend the contract for additional performance periods, but the government is not obligated to exercise them.
ASO Federal Acquisition Regulations 3
A federal security contract requires an armed officer to carry a firearm.
Under FAR, the requirement for the officer to be licensed to carry is typically found in: