Skip to main content

B-224252, OCT 9, 1986, 86-2 CPD 414

B-224252 Oct 09, 1986
Jump To:
Skip to Highlights

Highlights

PROCUREMENT - BID PROTEST - AGENCY-LEVEL PROTESTS - ORAL PROTESTS DIGEST: PROTESTER'S PRE-BID-OPENING ORAL COMPLAINT TO CONTRACTING AGENCY THAT SPECIFICATIONS DESCRIBED EQUIPMENT OFFERED BY ONLY ONE VENDOR DID NOT CONSTITUTE TIMELY AGENCY PROTEST SINCE ORAL PROTESTS ARE NOT PROVIDED FOR UNDER THE FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION. IS DISMISSED AS UNTIMELY. PROCUREMENT - BID PROTEST - GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE PROCEDURES - PROTEST TIMELINESS - APPARENT SOLICITATION IMPROPRIETIES PROTESTER'S PRE-BID-OPENING ORAL COMPLAINT TO CONTRACTING AGENCY THAT SPECIFICATIONS DESCRIBED EQUIPMENT OFFERED BY ONLY ONE VENDOR DID NOT CONSTITUTE TIMELY AGENCY PROTEST SINCE ORAL PROTESTS ARE NOT PROVIDED FOR UNDER THE FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION.

View Decision

B-224252, OCT 9, 1986, 86-2 CPD 414

PROCUREMENT - BID PROTEST - AGENCY-LEVEL PROTESTS - ORAL PROTESTS DIGEST: PROTESTER'S PRE-BID-OPENING ORAL COMPLAINT TO CONTRACTING AGENCY THAT SPECIFICATIONS DESCRIBED EQUIPMENT OFFERED BY ONLY ONE VENDOR DID NOT CONSTITUTE TIMELY AGENCY PROTEST SINCE ORAL PROTESTS ARE NOT PROVIDED FOR UNDER THE FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION. THEREFORE, PROTEST TO GAO, FOLLOWING BID OPENING, IS DISMISSED AS UNTIMELY. PROCUREMENT - BID PROTEST - GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE PROCEDURES - PROTEST TIMELINESS - APPARENT SOLICITATION IMPROPRIETIES PROTESTER'S PRE-BID-OPENING ORAL COMPLAINT TO CONTRACTING AGENCY THAT SPECIFICATIONS DESCRIBED EQUIPMENT OFFERED BY ONLY ONE VENDOR DID NOT CONSTITUTE TIMELY AGENCY PROTEST SINCE ORAL PROTESTS ARE NOT PROVIDED FOR UNDER THE FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION. THEREFORE, PROTEST TO GAO, FOLLOWING BID OPENING, IS DISMISSED AS UNTIMELY.

WHITE OFFICE SYSTEMS, INC.:

WHITE OFFICE SYSTEMS, INC. (WHITE), PROTESTS THE SPECIFICATIONS IN INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB) NO. DACA31-86-B-0048, ISSUED BY THE BALTIMORE DISTRICT OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS (ARMY) FOR CONSTRUCTION AT THE WARRENTON TRAINING CENTER, WARRENTON, VIRGINIA. WHITE ARGUES THAT ONLY ONE VENDOR CAN MEET THE SPECIFICATIONS FOR MECHANIZED STORAGE SHELVING, AND THAT THE REQUIREMENT WAS CLASSIFIED AS CONSTRUCTION TO AVOID USE OF A GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION'S MULTIPLE AWARD SCHEDULE CONTRACT. WE DISMISS THE PROTEST.

THE RECORD REVEALS THAT PRIOR TO THE SEPTEMBER 25, 1986, BID OPENING DATE, A REPRESENTATIVE FROM WHITE ORALLY ADVISED THE ARMY THAT THE SPECIFICATIONS FOR MECHANIZED STORAGE SHELVING DESCRIBED IN DETAIL EQUIPMENT OFFERED BY ONLY ONE VENDOR. WE RECEIVED WHITE'S PROTEST CONCERNING THIS MATTER ON OCTOBER 1, 1986.

OUR BID PROTEST REGULATIONS, 4 C.F.R. SEC. 21.2(A)(1) (1986), REQUIRE THAT PROTESTS SUCH AS THIS, BASED ON ALLEGED IMPROPRIETIES APPARENT IN A SOLICITATION, BE FILED PRIOR TO BID OPENING. SEE YORK INTERNATIONAL CORP., B-223248, JUNE 17, 1986, 86-1 CPD PARA. 561. WHITE'S PROTEST WAS NOT FILED WITH OUR OFFICE UNTIL AFTER THE SEPTEMBER 25, 1986, BID OPENING AND, THEREFORE, IS UNTIMELY.

ALTHOUGH WHITE EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THIS PROCUREMENT TO THE CONTRACTING AGENCY BEFORE THE CLOSING DATE, THE FIRM'S ORAL COMPLAINT TO THE CONTRACTING AGENCY DID NOT CONSTITUTE A PROTEST SUCH THAT A SUBSEQUENT PROTEST TO OUR OFFICE WOULD BE TIMELY. ORAL PROTESTS ARE NO LONGER PROVIDED FOR UNDER THE FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION, 48 C.F.R. SEC. 33.101 (1985); K-II CONSTRUCTION, INC., B-221661, MAR 18, 1986, 65 COMP.GEN. ***, 86-1 CPD PARA 270.

THE PROTEST IS DISMISSED.

GAO Contacts

Office of Public Affairs