True or False: According to FAR Part 15, a contracting officer can negotiate with offerors in the competitive range after evaluating offers.

The statement is true because FAR Part 15 provides the legal framework allowing contracting officers the authority to negotiate with offerors whose proposals fall within the competitive range. This occurs after the initial evaluation of proposals, where the contracting officer assesses the submissions based on the established evaluation criteria.

Once the competitive range is determined, which includes proposals that are deemed to have a reasonable chance of being selected for award, the contracting officer can engage in discussions or negotiations to clarify aspects of the proposals, obtain more favorable terms, or address any weaknesses identified in the submissions. This process is essential to ensure that the government can achieve the best value for its procurement.

The other options suggest conditions or limitations that do not accurately reflect the provisions of FAR Part 15, as it allows for negotiations within the competitive range regardless of the financial thresholds or the status of all bids. Therefore, the ability to negotiate hinges solely on the evaluation process and the determination of the competitive range.