Geographical Restriction on Location of Bidders

The protester objected to a solicitation which required that the award be limited to contractors located within a specified geographic area. Although the protest was filed after bid opening, it was considered since the procurement was not advertised in the Commerce Business Daily, the protester was not sent an invitation since it was not within the specified geographical area to which bidders were restricted, there was no evidence that the protester knew of the procurement prior to bid opening, and the protest was filed within 10 days of when the basis for protest became known to the protester. The geographical restriction on the location of bidders was valid because the procurement was a pilot program under an interdepartmental agreement which necessitated close cooperation and regular inspection by cognizant agency personnel to solidify procurement policy for future procurements.