[Protest of HHS Contract Award for Clearinghouse Operation]

A firm protested a Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) contract award for the operation of a publications clearinghouse, contending that HHS: (1) unreasonably evaluated the final revised proposals; and (2) improperly awarded the contract to the awardee. GAO held that HHS: (1) improperly evaluated the proposals, since there was no information in the record regarding proposal strengths and weaknesses after discussions; and (2) improperly awarded the contract to the awardee, since HHS could not establish the reasonableness of its bid evaluations. Accordingly, the protests were sustained, and GAO recommended that HHS: (1) reevaluate the proposals, document its evaluation, and make a new selection decision; (2) reopen discussions and request another round of revised proposals; (3) terminate the awardee's contract and make award to another bidder, if otherwise appropriate; and (4) reimburse the protester for its protest costs.