In making the decision on whether to submit a proposal in response to a Government requirement, a company may attempt to gauge the level of expected competition. If the solicitation allows for full and open competition, the company would consider as potential competition:

This option is too restrictive, as it limits potential competition to only those companies located in a specific geographic region. Government solicitations often seek proposals from a broader pool of bidders, regardless of location, as long as they can meet the requirements.

While this choice suggests inclusivity, it fails to consider the necessity of companies being "responsible." Not all companies, regardless of their size or location, may possess the qualifications, experience, or reliability required to fulfill government contracts. The emphasis must be on capable and responsible companies.

This statement inaccurately narrows the potential competition to only those companies that already hold government contracts. In a full and open competition scenario, any responsible company that can meet the requirements is eligible, whether or not they have previous contracts with the government.