Qualification of Bidder as an Approved Source for Defense Procurement

Two companies contended that it should get a contract award. The companies were the only two offerors on the solicitation. The conflict centered on whether the low bidder could qualify as an approved source for this procurement as required by the solicitation. The offeror should be considered as an approved source where the Air Force technical personnel approved the offeror subject to the addition of a first article test provision to the contract. Relaxation of the delivery terms during negotiations with only one of the two offerors was improper, and a new round of negotiations was recommended.