Which of the following is NOT an appropriate technique for detecting nonconforming goods or services schemes?

• A. Conduct unannounced inspections of questioned goods or materials.
• B. Interview procurement personnel about red flags.
• C. Review the inspection and testing reports of questioned goods or materials.
• D. Determine if contract costs have exceeded or are expected to exceed the contract value.

Answer: (D)

Detecting nonconforming goods or services schemes hinges on gathering timely, verifiable evidence about actual delivery and quality. Unannounced inspections of questioned goods or materials put suppliers on notice that discrepancies may be uncovered in real time, increasing the chance to catch substitutions or tampering. Interviewing procurement personnel for red flags helps surface process weaknesses, improper approvals, or unusual conduct that could indicate collusion or fraud. Reviewing the inspection and testing reports of questioned goods or materials provides objective data on whether the items meet contractual specs and quality standards. In contrast, determining whether contract costs have exceeded or are expected to exceed the contract value focuses on cost performance rather than the specific quality or conformance of the goods or services, so it does not directly detect nonconforming schemes.