Contract Award to Offeror Whose Option Price Was Improper

A protester contended that the awardee's offer should not have been accepted because it contained an option price in excess of the ceiling in the solicitation. Award of the contract was prejudicial to other offerers and contrary to the Government's interests. Negotiations should be reopened to either cure the deviation in the accepted proposal or to issue a solicitation amendment deleting the option price ceiling in spite of the fact that such action will amount to an auction technique.