Protest against Sole-Source Procurement for Audit Services

A company protested seven sole-source awards for audits of prime sponsor grantees under the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA), alleging that prime sponsor grantees are required to award audit contracts on subsponsors on a competitive basis. The agency's belief that it is necessary for the same firm to audit both the prime sponsor and subsponsor did not justify sole-source procurement. The services were not so urgently needed that the agency could not afford a possible delay. The agency should consider termination and resolicitation.