What must the evaluation documentation include to support an award decision?

• A. The protest history file.
• B. A summary of only the price evaluation.
• C. The SSDD or SSD with rationale and ranking, capturing evaluations and ratings.
• D. A generic memo stating a winner.

Answer: (C)

The key idea is that the award decision must be supported by a formal, auditable record of how proposals were evaluated and why the chosen offer is preferred. The required document is the Source Selection Decision Document, or the Source Selection Document (SSD) with rationale and ranking, which captures the actual evaluations, ratings, and the justification for the decision and any tradeoffs. This provides a clear, defensible basis for the award that aligns with the evaluation criteria and allows review if protests arise.

Other records like the protest history file sit alongside the process but do not themselves justify the award; a summary that only covers price ignores nonprice factors and the full evaluation; and a generic memo naming a winner lacks the detailed evaluation results and the rationale for the ranking.