B-225514, DEC 3, 1986, 86-2 CPD 640
Highlights
PROCUREMENT - BID PROTEST - PREMATURE ALLEGATION - FUTURE PROCUREMENT - GAO REVIEW DIGEST: WHERE A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ABOUT A VENDOR'S PRODUCT LINE IS NOT FOLLOWED BY THE ISSUANCE OF A SOLICITATION OR THE AWARD OF A CONTRACT. THE FACT THAT THE AGENCY MAY DECIDE IT IS NOT INTERESTED IN THE VENDOR'S PRODUCTS PROVIDES NO BASIS FOR PROTEST SINCE THE GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE CONSIDERS ONLY PROTESTS INVOLVING SOLICITATIONS AND PROPOSED OR ACTUAL CONTRACT AWARDS. IT WAS CONTACTED BY THE NAVY FOR INFORMATION REGARDING ITS LINE OF PRINTERS. AFTER PROVIDING THAT INFORMATION WAS ADVISED THAT ITS PRINTERS "WERE NOT SELECTED FOR MANY REASONS.". THAT THE REQUEST TO CENTRONICS FOR INFORMATION WAS ALL THAT OCCURRED.
B-225514, DEC 3, 1986, 86-2 CPD 640
PROCUREMENT - BID PROTEST - PREMATURE ALLEGATION - FUTURE PROCUREMENT - GAO REVIEW DIGEST: WHERE A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ABOUT A VENDOR'S PRODUCT LINE IS NOT FOLLOWED BY THE ISSUANCE OF A SOLICITATION OR THE AWARD OF A CONTRACT, THE FACT THAT THE AGENCY MAY DECIDE IT IS NOT INTERESTED IN THE VENDOR'S PRODUCTS PROVIDES NO BASIS FOR PROTEST SINCE THE GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE CONSIDERS ONLY PROTESTS INVOLVING SOLICITATIONS AND PROPOSED OR ACTUAL CONTRACT AWARDS.
CENTRONICS SALES & SERVICE CORPORATION:
CENTRONICS SALES & SERVICE CORPORATION PROTESTS A "SOLE SOURCE AWARD BY THE NAVAL CIVILIAN PERSONNEL COMMAND, UPON THE BASIS THAT IT DID NOT ALLOW COMPETITIVE BIDDING." ACCORDING TO THE PROTESTER, IT WAS CONTACTED BY THE NAVY FOR INFORMATION REGARDING ITS LINE OF PRINTERS, BUT AFTER PROVIDING THAT INFORMATION WAS ADVISED THAT ITS PRINTERS "WERE NOT SELECTED FOR MANY REASONS."
WE UNDERSTAND FROM THE NAVY THAT IN FACT THERE HAS BEEN NO PROCUREMENT, AND THAT THE REQUEST TO CENTRONICS FOR INFORMATION WAS ALL THAT OCCURRED.
THIS OFFICE CONSIDERS PROTESTS INVOLVING SOLICITATIONS ISSUED BY FEDERAL AGENCIES AND AWARDS MADE OR TO BE MADE UNDER THESE SOLICITATIONS. C.F.R. SEC. 21.1(A) (1986). HERE APPARENTLY THERE HAS BEEN NO CONTRACT AWARDED NOR ANY SOLICITATION ISSUED. ALTHOUGH THE NAVY MAY HAVE DECIDED THAT IT IS NOT INTERESTED IN CENTRONICS' PRINTERS, UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THE NAVY INITIATES A PROCUREMENT THROUGH THE ISSUANCE OF A SOLICITATION OR THE AWARD OF A CONTRACT, THE NAVY HAS DONE NOTHING WHICH CAN BE THE SUBJECT OF A PROTEST. SEE A. MOE & CO., INC., 64 COMP.GEN. 755 (1985), 85-2 CPD PARA. 144.
THE PROTEST IS DISMISSED.