If the existing contract is ending and the customer wishes to retain the current contractor, what can the COR do?

When a contract is nearing its conclusion and a customer wishes to retain the current contractor, the role of the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) includes assisting in acquisition planning and developing evaluation criteria for a new contract. This is essential because while the customer may prefer to continue with the existing contractor, formal processes must be followed to ensure compliance with federal acquisition regulations and to maintain fairness in competition.

By assisting in acquisition planning, the COR can evaluate the current contractor's performance and help determine the specifics required for the new contract, including setting relevant evaluation criteria. This process ensures that the needs of the agency are met while allowing the option to consider the current contractor if they are deemed fit to execute the new requirements.

The other options don't align with the roles and responsibilities of a COR. Advising against retaining the contractor for legal reasons is not typically a COR's responsibility in this scenario; legal considerations usually fall under the purview of legal counsel or contracting officials. Conducting a completely new bidding process is only necessary if required by the acquisition strategy, and it wouldn't be the COR's decision to mandate this. Lastly, the COR does not have the authority to unilaterally extend a contract—such actions fall within the responsibilities of a contracting officer. Thus,