What does full and open competition NOT guarantee for contractors?

Full and open competition ensures that all qualified contractors have the opportunity to compete for government contracts. However, this does not guarantee that a specific contractor will be awarded the contract. The competitive process may yield multiple qualified bids, and the awarding entity must evaluate these based on predetermined criteria, which may include cost, technical capability, and compliance with requirements. This means that even within a fully competitive environment, factors such as evaluation criteria or decisions may lead to a contract being awarded to a contractor that is not the one expected or preferred by any specific bidder. Therefore, while it promotes a healthy level of competition, it does not ensure any particular contractor receives the award.