In a scenario with a widely-publicized solicitation where a single offer is received and the price is similar to a price in the market under adequate competition, which conclusion is correct regarding cost data?

• A. Certified data is not required
• B. The proposed price is reasonable in comparison to a recent price for a similar item; therefore, certified cost and pricing data is not required
• C. Certified cost data is required because there was only one offer
• D. No data is ever required

Answer: (B)

In negotiated procurements, you normally must obtain certified cost or pricing data unless you can justify the price through analysis of market information or market-based pricing. If the price can be shown to be reasonable by comparing it to recent prices paid for similar items in a competitive market, you can rely on price analysis rather than certified data.

Here, even though the solicitation yielded only a single offer, the price being close to a recent market price for a similar item under adequate competition means you can determine reasonableness through market benchmarking. Therefore, certified cost and pricing data are not required.

Other options don’t fit because simply having a widely publicized solicitation or having only one offer doesn’t automatically waive or demand data; the deciding factor is whether you can establish price reasonableness via market data. Saying no data is ever required is incorrect, and saying data is required solely because there was one offer ignores the market-based reasonableness shown by the price comparison.