B-216962, NOV 8, 1984, 84-2 CPD 515
Highlights
BIDS - PRICES - BELOW COST - NOT BASIS FOR PRECLUDING AWARD DIGEST: AGENCY DECISION TO AWARD A CONTRACT TO OTHER THAN THE LOW-PRICED OFFEROR IS NOT LEGALLY OBJECTIONABLE WHEN THE LOW OFFER IS FOUND TO BE TECHNICALLY ACCEPTABLE. DUTCHESS STATES THAT IT SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED THE AWARD BECAUSE OF ITS LOWER PRICE. IT COMPLAINS ONLY THAT ITS PROPOSAL WAS LOWER-PRICED AND REPRESENTED " A SAVINGS TO THE GOVERNMENT OF 19.5%.". FOR THE SIMPLE REASON THAT SUCH PROPOSALS WILL NOT MEET THE GOVERNMENT'S NEEDS. THE NAVY'S ACCEPTANCE OF A PROPOSAL THAT IS HIGHER PRICED THAN THE PROTESTER'S IS NOT LEGALLY OBJECTIONABLE. THE PROTEST IS SUMMARILY DENIED.
B-216962, NOV 8, 1984, 84-2 CPD 515
BIDS - PRICES - BELOW COST - NOT BASIS FOR PRECLUDING AWARD DIGEST: AGENCY DECISION TO AWARD A CONTRACT TO OTHER THAN THE LOW-PRICED OFFEROR IS NOT LEGALLY OBJECTIONABLE WHEN THE LOW OFFER IS FOUND TO BE TECHNICALLY ACCEPTABLE.
DUTCHESS ELECTRONICS MANUFACTURING CO., INC.:
DUTCHESS ELECTRONICS MANUFACTURING CO., INC. PROTESTS THE AWARD OF A CONTRACT TO ANOTHER COMPANY BY THE NAVAL REGIONAL CONTRACTING CENTER, PHILADELPHIA, UNDER REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS NO. N00140-82-R-1320. DUTCHESS STATES THAT IT SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED THE AWARD BECAUSE OF ITS LOWER PRICE.
THE DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED BY THE PROTESTER INDICATE THAT THE NAVY INFORMED DUTCHESS, BY LETTER OF MAY 11, 1984, THAT ITS PROPOSAL WOULD NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE COMPETITIVE RANGE AND THAT FURTHER NEGOTIATIONS WOULD NOT BE CONDUCTED WITH IT. THEY ALSO INDICATE THAT BY LETTER OF SEPTEMBER 10, THE NAVY INFORMED DUTCHESS OF THE AWARD OF THE CONTRACT AND THE AMOUNT THEREOF.
FROM THESE DOCUMENTS, IT APPEARS THAT THE NAVY VIEWED THE DUTCHESS PROPOSAL AS TECHNICALLY UNACCEPTABLE, AND FOR THAT REASON DID NOT CONSIDER THE PROPOSAL TO BE IN THE ZONE OF CONSIDERATION FOR AWARD. DUTCHESS DOES NOT CHALLENGE THE EVALUATION THAT RESULTED IN THE ELIMINATION OF ITS PROPOSAL FROM THE COMPETITIVE RAGE. RATHER, IT COMPLAINS ONLY THAT ITS PROPOSAL WAS LOWER-PRICED AND REPRESENTED " A SAVINGS TO THE GOVERNMENT OF 19.5%." TECHNICALLY UNACCEPTABLE PROPOSALS, HOWEVER, NEED NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR AWARD, REGARDLESS OF THE PRICE ASSOCIATED WITH THEM, FOR THE SIMPLE REASON THAT SUCH PROPOSALS WILL NOT MEET THE GOVERNMENT'S NEEDS. SEE, E.G., LTV AEROSPACE CORP., 55 COMP.GEN. 307, 338 (1975), 75-2 CPD PARA. 203, AND CASES CITED THEREIN. THEREFORE, THE NAVY'S ACCEPTANCE OF A PROPOSAL THAT IS HIGHER PRICED THAN THE PROTESTER'S IS NOT LEGALLY OBJECTIONABLE.
THE PROTEST IS SUMMARILY DENIED.