[Protest of Air Force Sole-Source Contract Award for Liquid Cooler Test Sets]

A firm protested an Air Force contract award for liquid cooler test sets, contending that, since it could manufacture the sets within the required timeframe, the sole-source award was improper. The Air Force had published notice of its intent to negotiate a sole-source contract with the awardee. However, the solicitation designated the procurement as unrestricted, and the protester submitted a proposal. An Air Force official, who reviewed the proposal because the protester was not an approved source, determined that: (1) the protester could not manufacture the product because the Air Force did not own the data for a number of parts; and (2) there was not enough time to qualify the protester since the test sets were urgently needed. GAO found that: (1) an agency may award a sole-source contract if it reasonably believes that only one contractor can meet its needs in the required timeframe; and (2) the Air Force's decision to award the contract was proper. Accordingly, the protest was denied.