Under what condition may an offeror originally in the competitive range be eliminated from that range?

• A. If, after discussions have begun, that offeror is no longer among the most highly rated.
• B. If the offeror requests a debriefing.
• C. If the offeror submits a final proposal revision on time.
• D. If the offeror's price is the highest.

Answer: (A)

After discussions have begun, an offeror originally in the competitive range may be eliminated if its proposal is no longer among the highest-rated proposals. The competitive range is meant to include only those proposals with a reasonable chance of being selected for award, and if an offeror’s rating slides so that it’s no longer in the top tier, it no longer has a realistic possibility of winning and can be removed from consideration.

Debriefing requests don’t change eligibility or evaluation status, so they don’t justify removal from the competitive range. Submitting a final proposal revision on time can affect the proposal’s standing, but it doesn’t by itself justify elimination from the range. Price being the highest isn’t a standalone trigger for exclusion; the decision rests on the overall ratings and the likelihood of award, not price alone.