[Goose]

FWIW, the "option" scam is one that contractors and the government use all the time to make things look much better than they actually are. I am speaking from bitter experience. Usually the terms of the option are such that either side can get out of it very easily by (correctly) claiming that some of the agreed-upon terms have not been met. For that reason, contractors can agree to options that require them to do things they actually may not be able to do because they know they won't actually have to do so. I don't know if this is the case here, but one should never assume that a government "option" in a contract means much, no matter what they tell you.

[Goose]

FWIW, the "option" scam is one that contractors and the government use all the time to make things look much better than they actually are. I am speaking from bitter experience. Usually the terms of the option are such that either side can get out of it very easily by (correctly) claiming that some of the agreed-upon terms have not been met. For that reason, contractors can agree to options that require them to do things they actually may not be able to do because they know they won't actually have to do so. I don't know if this is the case here, but one should never assume that a government "option" in a contract means much, no matter what they tell you.