True or False: The contracting officer may limit the number of proposals in the competitive range to optimize efficient competition among highly rated proposals.

The assertion that the contracting officer may limit the number of proposals in the competitive range to optimize efficient competition among highly rated proposals is true. In competitive procurement scenarios, contracting officers evaluate proposals based on a set of defined criteria and are responsible for ensuring that the procurement process is both fair and efficient.

When the number of proposals submitted is large, the contracting officer has the discretion to limit the competitive range to only those proposals that are deemed to be highly rated. This action is taken to streamline the evaluation process, focusing resources and efforts on the most promising submissions. By narrowing the competitive range in this way, the contracting officer can foster a more effective competition among the top contenders, improving the likelihood of selecting the best proposal for the contract award.

The ability to limit the proposals does not undermine competition but rather enhances it by concentrating on quality submissions that meet the necessary criteria. In doing so, it supports the goals of efficiency, effective use of time, and resources in the evaluation process.