What is the purpose of maintaining confidentiality of price proposals during non-price factor evaluations?

• A. Proposals are released publicly to all evaluators immediately.
• B. Price proposals are used by non-price evaluators during their evaluation.
• C. Price proposals are kept confidential and are only disclosed to evaluators evaluating non-price factors once the non-price evaluation is complete.
• D. Price data is never considered in the evaluation.

Answer: (C)

Keeping price information separate from the evaluation of non-price factors is essential for fairness. Evaluators should judge technical merit, management approach, and past performance without being influenced by cost data. Price proposals are kept confidential and only disclosed to those evaluating price factors after the non-price evaluation is complete. This prevents price from biasing the assessment of non-price factors and helps ensure an objective, competitive process. Once the non-price evaluation is finished, price information is opened and considered alongside the non-price results to determine the best value.