I just realized I may have misinterpreted FAR 52.215-1(f)(5) for all years until I read this thread.
? The Government reserves the right to make an award on any item for a quantity less than the quantity offered, at the unit cost or prices offered, unless the offeror specifies otherwise in the proposal.?
In my opinion, any item means ?any item accepted by the Government? and for the item to be accepted, at least one quantity shall be awarded on that item. A quantity less than the quantity offered means ?a quantity less than the quantity the successful Offeror offered,? and does not mean a quantity less than the quantity Government required in the solicitation.
Let?s say the solicitation required 800 (QTY) of flashlights and the basis for award is LPTA. Two proposals were received, and both are determined technically acceptable equally. Offeror A proposed a unit price of $10.00 for the quantity of 800, which makes the total proposed price of $8,000.00. Offeror B proposed a unit price of $9.50 for the quantity of 1,000, which makes the total proposed price of $9,500.00. However, Offeror B failed to specify in its proposal that this unit price is applicable only when the quantity of 1,000 was purchased by the Government, implying it is offering a discount for a larger quantity and the unit price would be higher if the exact quantity of 800 would be purchased by the Government. In this case, the Government has the right to purchase only the quantity of 800 from Offeror B at the unit price of $9.50 that is the offered unit price in its proposal, and therefore, the awarded price will be $9.50 X 800 =$7,600.00. Offeror B?s proposal is determined to be the best value. If there are option periods included in the solicitation, the same logic shall apply. Again, in my opinion (and I could be wrong), FAR 52.215-1(f) discusses the Government?s right to decide the quantity to be purchased on a particular item(s), and does not discuss the right to decide whether to accept a particular item(s) (all items or less items).