Inadvertent Failure of Procurement Activity To Send Invitation to Potential Bidder Is Not Compelling Reason To Resolicit

An agency issued an invitation for bids for the procurement of three oversnow vehicles, received only one bid, and made an award to that bidder. A firm protested the award made on this basis and the failure of the agency to solicit other firms who had submitted bids on a regular basis in the past. A total of 16 prospective bidders was originally sent copies of the invitation and the procurement was synopsized in the "Commercial Business Daily." In addition, copies of the invitation for bids were sent on request to two bidders. Failure to send copies to the protester and other firms was apparently a result of a clerical mistake. Inadvertent actions of an activity which preclude a potential bidder from competing on a procurement do not constitute a compelling reason to resolicit if adequate competition and reasonable prices are obtained. The protester did not contend that the award price was unreasonable, nor that a deliberate effort was made to exclude it from bidding. The contracting activity was consistent with solicitation specifications. Therefore, the protest was denied.