What is the role of an evaluation panel in Part 15 procurements?

• A. To perform post-award audits only.
• B. To assess technical merit, past performance, and price in accordance with the evaluation criteria.
• C. To select the winner based on price alone.
• D. To announce the award decision after protests are resolved.

Answer: (B)

In FAR Part 15 procurements, the evaluation panel’s job is to evaluate proposals against the criteria defined in the RFP to determine overall merit and risk. They consider technical merit, past performance, and price realism, and they document their ratings and the supporting rationale. This structured assessment ensures the decision reflects the stated evaluation factors and is fair and objective.

This is why the best answer is that the panel assesses technical merit, past performance, and price in accordance with the evaluation criteria. The panel’s findings feed the source selection decision, but the winner is not chosen by price alone, nor are post-award audits or award announcements the panel’s primary function; those roles belong to the contracting officer or the Source Selection Authority and the protest process, respectively.