[Protest of Air Force Contract Award]

A firm protested a contract award under an Air Force solicitation for compressors, contending that the awardee was on the consolidated list of debarred, suspended, and ineligible contractors at the time of bid solicitation and opening. The Air Force had lifted the awardee's suspension prior to award on the basis of the awardee's plea agreement and consent judgment, coupled with the fact that the individual responsible for the wrongdoings was no longer employed by the awardee. GAO has held that there is no proscription against a suspended or debarred bidder's submitting a bid and that the time to reject a bid is any time before award. GAO found that no compelling reason was presented to reject the awardee's bid. Accordingly, the protest was denied.