Which of the following would NOT be considered a non-cost factor in proposal evaluation?

In proposal evaluations, non-cost factors are typically elements that are assessed based on the qualitative aspects of a contractor's proposal, rather than the monetary aspects. These factors help evaluate how well a proposer can meet the requirements of the contract beyond just the financial commitment.

Contract price is a direct numerical value that represents the cost of the proposed services or products. It is fundamentally a cost factor since it quantifies the financial obligation involved in the contract. Evaluators use this information to compare the monetary offerings from different bidders against available budgets and funding. As such, it does not contribute to the qualitative assessment of a proposal's capability, approach, or experience.

On the other hand, elements like small business utilization, past performance, and technical approach are assessed through criteria that reflect the contractor's experience, the viability of their strategies, and their commitments to using specific resources. Each of these aspects plays a critical role in understanding how well the contractor can deliver the desired outcomes, even if they do not involve direct costs.