In a sole-source procurement with a single offer and a 30-day receipt period, what action must the contracting officer take to determine if the offered price is fair and reasonable?

• A. Determine through cost or price analysis that the offered price is fair and reasonable and that adequate price competition exists.
• B. Obtain from the offeror cost or pricing data necessary to determine a fair and reasonable price and comply with the requirement for certified data.
• C. Reject the offer and reopen competition to obtain multiple offers.
• D. Award at the offered price without any further analysis.

Answer: (A)

In a sole-source situation, you still have to establish that the offered price is fair and reasonable. The way to do that is through price analysis, which means examining the proposed price against independent market information, catalogs, prior similar purchases, and other relevant data. This analysis shows whether the price aligns with what the market or history indicates is reasonable, even when there isn’t competitive bidding.

The 30-day receipt period doesn’t change this duty; it just sets the timing for finalizing the determination before award. If the price analysis cannot establish reasonableness from available data, then you would consider obtaining more detailed cost or pricing data or taking other steps, but the core requirement upfront is to perform price analysis to determine fairness and reasonableness. Reopening competition or awarding without analysis would not meet procurement safeguards.