[Protest of HUD Solicitation for Management and Marketing Services]

Two firms protested a Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) solicitation for management and marketing services for single family properties, contending that HUD failed to assess the impact that bundling requirements would have on incumbent small business contractors in the area. GAO held that: (1) HUD was not required to assess whether the bundled requirements would adversely affect small businesses because the Small Business Administration determined that the overall solicitation was radically different from the work previously performed in the area and thus represented new work; and (2) HUD reasonably consolidated its marketing requirements with existing property management contract requirements, since it determined that the resulting benefits were substantial, and the protester has not identified a reasonable alternative that would provide similar benefits. Accordingly, the protests were denied.