[Protest of Army Award for Meals, Lodging, and Transportation for Recruits]

A firm protested an Army contract award under a small business set-aside for meals, lodging, and transportation for recruits, contending that the: (1) other two bidders were not eligible for award, since they were large businesses; (2) Army was not compelled to make award to the incumbent; and (3) Army prejudiced it, since the scheduled bid opening was only 5 days before contract commencement and did not allow sufficient time to protest to the Small Business Administration. The Army contended that the protester was not sufficiently interested to protest, since it would not be in line for award even if its protest were sustained. GAO held that the protester: (1) was sufficiently interested to protest, since it was third in line and would be eligible for award if its protest were sustained; (2) failed to show that the Army's award determination was unreasonable; and (3) untimely filed after bid opening its protest against alleged solicitation improprieties. Accordingly, the protest was denied in part and dismissed in part.