What type of pricing data must contractors provide under TINA?

Under the Truth in Negotiations Act (TINA), contractors are required to provide both estimated and actual pricing data when they are negotiating contracts with the government. This requirement ensures that the government has access to comprehensive and transparent cost information, allowing it to make informed decisions during the procurement process.

Providing estimated costs allows the contracting officer to assess the contractor's proposals and make comparisons necessary to establish a fair price. However, the inclusion of actual pricing data is crucial as it reflects what was truly expended in similar circumstances, thereby helping to validate the estimates provided. This dual requirement for both estimated and actual pricing data is instrumental in maintaining bargaining integrity and transparency in federal contracting, thereby protecting the government against overpricing and ensuring accountability.

The options involving only estimated costs, only actual pricing data, or solely historical pricing data do not fulfill the comprehensive disclosure intent of TINA. Each of these would limit the information necessary for effective price negotiations, ultimately undermining the statutory objective of securing fair and reasonable prices for the government.