Firms that achieve an outstanding level of overall quality based on performance in key areas such as strategic planning and customer focus may be awarded the national quality award.

Firms that achieve an outstanding level of overall quality based on performance in key areas such as strategic planning and customer focus may be awarded the Malcom Baldrige National Quality Award.

Explanation:

In 1987, the U.S Congress introduced The Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award to acknowledge how qualified the management of some companies is and give recognition to companies of the United States that have accomplished the implementation of successful systems for managing quality. This award represents the maximum presidential honor regarding performance greatness.

d. i assume the underlined word is "role." reformat if it isn't.

explanation:

role is closest to part because when replacing words, "playing a vital decision," "playing a vital activity," and "playing a vital dollar" don't make logical sense. the only meaningful choice is "playing a vital part."

this fits one of merriam-webster's definitions of role: "a function or part performed especially in a particular operation or process."