Protest Against Failure To Set Aside Procurement for Small Businesses

A company protested the agency's failure to totally set aside a solicitation for small businesses. It also maintained that inclusion of the product on the Industrial Preparedness Planning List (IPPL) was improper because it did not meet selection criteria. Selection of items for the IPPL is a matter of administrative discretion, and no abuse of this discretion was established. Because publication of the IPPL was delayed, the contracting officer did not set aside the procurement for small businesses since a large business producer of the item under IPPL planned to participate. There was no impropriety in the failure to set aside the procurement for small businesses.