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A comprehensive overview of the role of a contracting officer representative (cor) in government contracting. It covers key definitions, responsibilities, and limitations of the cor position. A series of questions and answers that can be used for study purposes, particularly for students in the field of government contracting or related disciplines.
Typology: Exams
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What is COR?
in writing, by the Contracting Officer (KO) to furnish technical direction, clarification, and guidance regarding the contract specifications and statement of work., review and/ or approving contractor invoices, other contract surveillance and monitoring duties
What is COR?
The COR is the technical liaison between the contractor and the KO and is responsible for monitoring contractor performance and delivery as set forth in the contract.
Apparent Authority
Obvious of evident authority that a reasonable person would believe someone to have, based on his or her actions or position. The government does not recognize this authority for contract work
Expressed Authority
Written, documented authority such as that given to the KO in a warrant. The COR only has expressed authority as delegated in the COR appointment letter.
Implied Authority
Implied, as a matter of reason, from the circumstances of the case. None of the elements of this kind of authority are expressed in writing or reduced to document form.
To be a COR, a person must:(Select all that apply)
Be employed by the US government, unless agency regulations permit COR authorization by persons other than US government employees, have the requisite technical capability, have been appointed by a KO
COR's primary role is to monitor, document and report contractor performance to both the KO and contractor.
True
The KO does not have to brief the responsibilities being assigned in the designation letter as well as the contract terms and conditions to the COR.
False
What are COR core responsibilities?
Know the contract,
Work with your contractors; monitor and evaluate performance,
Provide technical direction and guidance if delegated in the COR's Letter of Designation,
Support mission and recommend changes,
Monitor satisfactory performance and timely delivery within the financial constraints of the contract
Document requirements
Assist in preparing the procurement package to include the Performance Work Statement (PWS)/Statement of Work (SOW) and Independent Government Estimate (IGE) to include market research
Prepare and submit Purchase Requests (PR)
Draft a Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP)/Checklist
Verify availability of funding; submit packet to request funds
Evaluate quotes/proposals from vendors/contractors
Keep the KO fully informed of any technical or contractual difficulties encountered during performance
Apprise the KO on contractor performance, specifically in relationship to the contract technical requirements in accordance with the contract terms, conditions, and specifications
Copy any letters to the contractor to the KO
Inform KO of contractor failure to comply with the technical requirements of the contract, particularly if the contractor fails to take corrective action
Report results to the KO, monthly report
COR Finance
Review vouchers for cost-reimbursement type work and recommend approval if the contractor's costs are consistent with the contractor's proposal or negotiated amounts and progress is satisfactory and commensurate with the rate of expenditure. The COR cannot approve invoices/vouchers on Cost type contracts
Review and process all invoices and vouchers in a timely manner in accordance with the Prompt Payment Act
Check material invoices
Verify contractor's reimbursable purchases are received before being invoiced to the government
Track contract costs - by contract type
Request deobligation of excess funds via letter to the KO advising that there exist excess funds on the contract subsequent to matching expenditures to funds obligated on the contract
COR-Documentation
To properly document the actions occurring on the contract, the COR is responsible for:
Documenting the actions taken and decisions made as the COR
Establish and maintain appropriate files to properly document the performance of responsibilities as COR for the life of the contract. At minimum, the file for the COR shall contain copies of the following:COR appointment memorandum with COR acknowledgementAll contract correspondenceRecords of COR inspections/acceptanceRecords of conversations with the contractorInvoices/vouchers
Establish a file for each contract assigned
COR-Oversight
Liaison with personnel at the government installation and the contractor personnel on-site
Coordinate site entry for contractor personnel, if applicable
Monitor security requirements on government installations
Ensure that Government Furnished Property (GFP), if applicable is available when required
Monitor and ensure that government furnished property, Government Furnished Materials, GFM are being properly maintained and accounted for by the contractor to the appropriate personnel
Confirm that Department of Labor and Equal Employment Opportunity posters and corresponding determination rates are posted in full view of employees at sites where the work is being performed (if the contract is for construction or services)
COT Limitation Contractor
Require, encourage or demand that the contractor perform any work or approve any substitution which is not clearly covered by the contract
Approve subcontracting or utilization of consultants
Interfere with subcontractors
Approve utilization of overtime
Direct the contractor or the contractor's employees, except as specified in the contract and COR's delegation letter
Interfere with the contractor's supervision of his own employees
Issue stop work orders
Perform any functions at a contractor's plant which have been delegated under FAR 42.202(a) to a Contract Administrative Office
Disclose source selection information or discuss any information which may provide a competitive advantage to one contractor in future procurements. Procurement Integrity
COR Limitation Finance
In finance related matters, a COR is not authorized to:
Increase the dollar limit of the contract, approve work in excess of the dollar limit of the contract or approve the obligation of funds
Disclose budget information
Approve transfers of funds between line items of the budget/contract
place any agreement with the contractor that obligates public funds, i.e., sign any contract, including delivery orders, purchase orders, or modify a contract, or in any way obligate payment of funds by the government
A COR does NOT have the authority to change the period of performance and approve ODCs on a contract.
False
Scenario -- COR authority The contractor, replacing the toilets in a high-profile government facility where the COR on the contract works, tells the COR he knows of a person who can provide automatic flush toilets for essentially the same price as the manual ones he's under contract to install. May the COR approve the automatic flush toilets?
**
No
**
The COR file shall include, at a minimum:
Documentation of Actions-Contract and Modification
Documentation of Actions-Acceptance Documents and Financials
during the contract.
Which of the following is an action that may be taken by a KO in the instance of a COR termination? (Choose all that are correct.)
Immediately take away the authority of the COR
Inform the COR's supervisor
Inform the COR in writing
Take other corrective actions
How are the CORS designated?
The KO takes written, prescribed process to substantiate the qualifications and to appoint the COR. Supplemental training and guidance provided by the KO prepares the COR for monitoring and administration of the contract.
What are the significant duties of a COR?
COR duties and responsibilities will shift with the size and type of contract and the complexity of the purchase, but in every instance, there will be a set of fundamental duties of the contract management universe. It is crucial for the COR to know the constraints of the role, too well as the duties.
What does the COR need to document?
Each COR must maintain an official file for each contract to which they are assigned. A COR file will contain your designation letter, copy of the contract and modifications, memos, correspondence between you and the contractor, financial information, and other important information relevant to the contract.
How is a COR designation terminated?
An appointment as a COR remains in effect until your appointment is terminated for cause, you are reassigned or relieved from your duties. The KO may amend the appointment letter of a COR at any time to clarify or limit the authority granted to that COR, or immediately revoke the COR's authority where necessary.
Basically, what are the key concepts?
Ethics are the primary foundation of standards of conduct for the behavior and practices of public servants. Ethics subject areas include favors, gratuities and consideration for services, conflicts of interest and the unauthorized use of official U.S. Government positions.
Each COR has a fiduciary duty, a relationship imposed by operation of law where someone voluntarily accepts to act in the role of a caretaker of another's rights, assets, and/or well being. The fiduciary - the COR - is committed to perform the duties with the highest degree of "good faith, honesty, integrity, loyalty, and undivided service of the beneficiaries interest."
How can a COR avoid trouble?
contractors do business with the government, they must adhere to the standards of conduct as established by contract, statute and regulation.
Even the appearance of anything less than complete integrity, objectivity and impartiality can call a COR's actions into question.
true
Information coming while doing official duty that pertains to the amount or source of any income, profits, losses or expenditures of any person, firm, partnership is ____________________________________.
Information exempt under the Trade Secrets Act
Source Selection Information
SSI is any information that an agency prepares for use by it in the development of a solicitation or in the evaluation of bids or proposals for the award of a government contract. Such information must not have been previously disclosed to the public or made available priorly, including proposed costs or prices, bid prices, technical plans and proposals, competitive range determinations or rankings of bids.
And
Intelligence is _______________________________________.
classified information which a contractor is not authorized to further release without prior written authorization
Errors in reporting costs is when ___________________________.
contractor intentionally gives inflated in-house quotes
Potential Defective Pricing is when___________________________
the contractor certified to false data.
Submission of Erroneous Progress Payment Requests involve_______
Involves the contractor knowingly submitting progress payment vouchers and certifying that he/she made progress or reached milestones on the work effort but, in reality, the contractor has done neither.
Restrictions on Obtaining and Disclosing Certain Information prohibits.
source selection and contractor bid or proposal information release
Restrictions on Obtaining and Disclosing Certain Information applies to.
Current and former federal employees
Bidders and offerors
Anyone who is advising or has advised the U.S. Government regarding the procurement (i.e., contractor employees and consultants)
Types of Procurement Information
Contractor Bid or Proposal Information-CBPI, SSI, Other non-public information
What is CBPI?
Proprietary Information means all non-public information submitted in connection with a bid or proposal, including but not limited to the following: cost or pricing data, including indirect costs and direct labor rates and overhead rates; manufacturing process, operation and techniques information when marked "proprietary" as authorized by law or regulation; information marked "contractor bid or proposal information"; any other information furnished by a bidding firm with respect to a particular procurement which that firm regards as proprietary.
Source Selection Information includes ________________________.(Select all that apply.)
The contractor paid $85 for a federal employee's dinner. Was an ethics law or regulation violated? If so, which one?
Title 18 U.S.C.
COR documentation of all contract types shall be maintained by whom and for how long?
3 years and turnover to KO
You are the COR at a Government training installation. During a class session, there is a contractor performing noisy construction work in the adjacent hallway. The instructor requests that you tell the noisy contractor to discontinue work until after class. You should request that the contractor take a break until class has ended.