[Protest of Navy Contract Award for Facility Construction]

A firm protested a Navy contract award for facility construction, contending that the Navy: (1) failed to furnish it copies of the solicitation amendments prior to bid opening despite its repeated requests; and (2) should have terminated the contract and reissued a complete solicitation to allow it the opportunity to compete. GAO held that: (1) since the Navy failed to furnish solicitation documents after several requests, it effectively denied the protester the opportunity to compete and violated the requirement for full and open competition; and (2) the Navy should reimburse the protester for its protest preparation costs. Accordingly, GAO sustained the protest and recommended that the Navy terminate the contract and resolicit the requirement, using full and open competition.