What is the role of a "two-envelope" submission in evaluation?

• A. It is used only for sole-source procurements.
• B. It requires bidders to submit two identical proposals.
• C. It combines technical and price into a single envelope for efficiency.
• D. It keeps technical proposals separate from price proposals so evaluators can assess technical merit without price bias.

Answer: (D)

Two-envelope evaluation centers on preventing price from influencing the assessment of technical merit. Proposers submit two sealed envelopes: one with the technical proposal (including approach, qualifications, and technical compliance) and one with the price proposal. Evaluators first open and judge only the technical envelope to determine capability and approach without knowing cost. After identifying the technically acceptable or top-scoring firms, the price envelopes for those finalists are opened to consider price and determine the best overall value. This separation ensures that technical merit is evaluated objectively before price enters the decision, which is the standard practice for best‑value procurements under FAR Part 15. The other options don’t fit because this method isn’t limited to sole-source, isn’t about submitting two identical proposals, and isn’t about combining technical and price into a single envelope.