Certified Professional Contract Manager (CPCM) Practice Exam 2026 - Free CPCM Practice Questions and Study Guide

The lowest price technically acceptable source selection process is particularly suitable in situations where proposals are evaluated based on their technical acceptability, with the understanding that the lowest price meeting those technical specifications will be chosen. This method allows agencies to receive various proposals that meet a minimum level of technical competence while focusing on cost efficiency.

The notion of "best value" implies that while proposals must be technically acceptable, the primary concern is to ensure that the government receives the most favorable pricing for those acceptable technical solutions. It does not prioritize the absolute lowest price indiscriminately but calls for a balance where technically acceptable offers are examined, and the one with the lowest cost that meets those criteria is selected.

In other contexts, such as when only the lowest price is a concern, or when quality is the overriding factor, this approach would not be as effective or appropriate. Additionally, expedited bidding processes might necessitate different selection criteria to suit time constraints, making them less applicable in this scenario compared to the structured evaluation inherent in the lowest price technically acceptable method.