CFCM Study Guide: FAR Prep

Prepare for NCMA's Certified Federal Contract Manager (CFCM) exam from the contracting officer's seat. Contract File lays the federal acquisition lifecycle out as a timeline, puts real decisions on your desk, and backs every answer with the FAR citation that settles it.

THE ACQUISITION LIFECYCLE
• Six phases on one timeline: planning, solicitation, evaluation, award, administration and closeout
• CO's Desk case files in every phase: read the memo, choose the procedure, contract type or clause, and see why each option is right or wrong
• Every case ends with the rule to remember and its FAR cite
• Topics include market research, J&As, set-asides, sealed bidding vs. negotiation, TINA, responsibility, debriefings, GAO protests, changes, terminations, CDA claims and closeout

FAR FINDER (FREE)
• A searchable index of FAR Parts 1–53, each with a one-line summary and its exam weight
• A dollar-thresholds table with its as-of date: current figures after the October 1, 2025 inflation adjustment beside the earlier figures the exam baseline still reflects
• A contract-type helper: answer the FAR 16.104 risk and certainty questions and get a suggested type with its cite and cautions

YOUR DOCKET
• A daily assignment, starting with a scored ten-question practice set
• An exam countdown from your test date
• Recent scores kept as a ledger, plus accuracy by study area

EXAM PREP
• Multiple-choice questions written in the style of the exam, each explained with a FAR citation
• True/false drills built from common misconceptions
• Flashcards, term matching, a searchable glossary, and a rules & formulas sheet

Start free with a scored practice set, one case in every lifecycle phase, and the full FAR Finder. Premium unlocks every case, question, flashcard, glossary term and rule. Progress stays on your device: no account needed.

NOT A GOVERNMENT APP
This app is not affiliated with, endorsed by or operated by any government agency and provides no government service.

GOVERNMENT INFORMATION: OFFICIAL SOURCES
U.S. government contracting information in this app is drawn from these official sources:
- Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR): https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far
- FAR 2.101 definitions and thresholds: https://www.acquisition.gov/far/2.101
- FAC 2025-06 inflation adjustment (Federal Register): https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2025-16412
- Revolutionary FAR Overhaul: https://www.acquisition.gov/far-overhaul
- DFARS: https://www.acquisition.gov/dfars
- U.S. Code, Titles 10, 31 and 41: https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/uscode
- Contract Disputes Act, 41 U.S.C. chapter 71: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2023-title41/html/USCODE-2023-title41-subtitleIII-chap71.htm
- Anti-Deficiency Act, 31 U.S.C. 1341: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2023-title31/html/USCODE-2023-title31-subtitleII-chap13-subchapIII-sec1341.htm
- GAO bid protests: https://www.gao.gov/legal/bid-protests
- U.S. Court of Federal Claims: https://www.uscfc.uscourts.gov/
- Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals: https://www.asbca.mil/
- SBA federal contracting: https://www.sba.gov/federal-contracting
- SAM.gov: https://sam.gov/
- Office of Management and Budget (Circular A-11): https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/

OTHER SOURCES (NON-GOVERNMENT)
- NCMA CFCM certification and CFCM Handbook: https://www.ncmahq.org/Web/Certification/CFCM.aspx

Independent study material, not legal advice. CFCM and Certified Federal Contract Manager are marks of the National Contract Management Association (NCMA); this app is not affiliated with or endorsed by NCMA, and its questions are original study items, not actual exam questions.

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