[Protest of Interior Rejection of Bid for Hydraulic-Turbine Runners]

A firm protested the Department of the Interior's rejection of its bid for hydraulic-turbine runners for the Grand Coulee Dam Powerplant, contending that Interior failed to conduct meaningful discussions. GAO held that Interior failed to conduct meaningful discussions because it did not advise the protester of weaknesses in the proposed manufacturing facility. Accordingly, the protest was sustained, and GAO recommended that Interior: (1) allow the protester to amend its proposal; (2) reassess whether the revised proposal should be considered for award; and (3) reimburse the protester for its protest costs.