[Protest of TVA IFB for Power Transformers]

A firm protested the Tennessee Valley Authority's (TVA) cancellation of a solicitation for power transformers and other equipment, contending that: (1) TVA improperly included a Buy American differential in its modified solicitation readvertising the procurement; and (2) TVA should have reinstated the original solicitation and awarded it the contract, since it was the original low bidder. GAO held that: (1) it had the authority to decide protests against TVA decisions; (2) TVA should cancel the second solicitation, since it erred in using more stringent evaluation criteria, and reinstate the original solicitation; and (3) TVA should award the contract to the lowest bidder as of initial bid opening. Accordingly, the protest was sustained.