What is the FAR's requirement regarding “Fair Opportunity” in task orders?

The requirement regarding "Fair Opportunity" in task orders, as outlined in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), emphasizes that agencies must provide all contractors within a multiple-award contract a fair opportunity to compete for each task order. This principle is designed to promote competition and ensure that all eligible contractors have the chance to showcase their capabilities and submit proposals for the task orders being issued. By mandating fair opportunity, the FAR aims to prevent favoritism and promote equitable treatment among contractors, fostering a more competitive environment that can lead to better pricing and quality of services.

The other choices do not align with the core principle established by the FAR. Selecting contractors based solely on price can undermine the concept of fair competition because it disregards other important factors like quality, past performance, and technical capability. Awarding tasks without a competitive process contradicts the essence of fair opportunity, which is to ensure that all qualified contractors are considered. Finally, limiting consideration to only the lowest bidder can lead to suboptimal decisions as it overlooks the nuanced aspects of value that can be derived from other proposals.