ANSWER

$1.$ Ethics should play a significant role in the writing of a proposal like this. The PEO's actions raise ethical questions regarding fairness, transparency, and the treatment of minority clients. While the PEO did address their concerns by reexamining the original proposal and offering a new contract with lower estimated costs, their initial quote seemed exploitative and raised doubts about their commitment to ethical business practices. The question of how much money the PEO should have tried to make is subjective; it should be balanced with fair pricing and value for the services provided. If I were part of the PEO's management, I would prioritize providing reasonable and competitive pricing while upholding the company's reputation for integrity and ethical conduct. In this situation, the PEO's ethical responsibility would involve finding a balance between profitability and ensuring a fair and respectful relationship with the client. The ultimate goal should be to establish trust, maintain a positive reputation, and foster long$-$term partnerships with clients based on ethical business practices.