Request for Reconsideration

A firm requested reconsideration of a prior decision dismissing its protest against the award of contracts by the Department of the Army for rental and maintenance of washers and dryers. In that decision, GAO disagreed with the protester's argument that the Government should set forth a maximum specified age for equipment which bidders may propose since the agency determined that no age limitation was required so long as the equipment was in good working order. In its request for reconsideration, the protester stated that it found it impossible to believe that GAO singled out washing machines and dryers as items that may be bid on without any age limits. It is the function of the procuring activity, not GAO, to determine its minimum needs. Since the agency determined that no age limitation was required for washers and dryers so long as the equipment was in good working order, GAO found no legal basis to question the Government's determination of its minimum needs. The protester offered no evidence not previously considered in support of its request and failed to show that the prior decision was based on any error of law or fact. Accordingly, the request for reconsideration was denied and the prior decision was affirmed.