Final answer:
The statement is true; a Contracting Officer can reject an offer without pursuing a waiver and move on to the next company in line for the award, based on what is best for the government procurement process.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the Contracting Officer (CO) is not required to pursue a waiver and may choose instead to reject the offer and move to the next company in line for an award is true. A CO has the authority to make decisions that are in the best interest of the government when it comes to procurement. If the circumstances dictate that it would be more advantageous, or if a company does not meet certain mandatory requirements or standards, the CO can reject the offer. This could be due to a variety of reasons, including non-compliance with solicitation requirements, an offeror being deemed non-responsible, or if a waiver is not appropriate or cannot be obtained in a timely manner. Therefore, they may move forward with the next best option available to fulfill the contract requirements.