Which procurement approach uses a price-technical trade-off to determine best value?

• A. RFQ
• B. RFP
• C. LPTA
• D. Sole Sourcing

Answer: (B)

The idea being tested is selecting a bidder by balancing cost with technical merit to achieve the best overall value. That balance is the hallmark of using a Request for Proposals. In an RFP, proposals include both technical and cost components, and the evaluation uses predefined criteria and weights to judge technical capability, approach, and price, arriving at the offer that delivers the best value for the project.

An RFQ focuses on qualifications to create a short list and doesn’t center on a price-technical trade-off. LPTA chooses the lowest price among those meeting minimum technical requirements, so there isn’t a deliberate, multi-criteria trade-off. Sole sourcing bypasses competition entirely, eliminating the comparative trade-off process.

So the approach that uses a price-technical trade-off to determine best value is the Request for Proposals.