In my experience, they are always offered if you haven't finished a fusion, and yes, it's been $5 a frag, or there about. Occasionally, there have been special events and tournaments where you can win 5-10 frags of various champions.
I think they're only offered if you're "close" to completing, though I don't know what they define as "close".
Does anyone know definitively - is it possible to win 150 frags and then buy the remaining 50, so you end up with 2 fusion champions?
as far as I can tell: yes. that is what I have heard the approach is from end game PvP clans and I would be surprised if that wasn't how it worked.