[Complaint Concerning Exclusion of Products]

A firm complained about the continued exclusion of one of its products from consideration for use in a foreign country under procurements financed by Agency for International Development (AID) grants and loans. The complainant's position was further supported by two other firms, and the complainant requested reconsideration of an earlier decision which excluded the product from future procurements. GAO based its original decision on information it received from an authoritative source which indicated that the product could not be used by the foreign country. The complainant reintroduced its position, supported by letters from several Government agencies and an authoritative individual which stated that the product was adequate for the foreign country's needs. However, AID reviewed the letters and concluded that their sources appeared to have little understanding of or experience in the job-site requirements. AID reaffirmed its prior decision on the grounds that the letters had no probative value, and GAO held that AID properly complied with applicable grantee regulations when it made its decision. Accordingly, the complaints and request for reconsideration were denied. GAO recommended that AID obtain reviews of the product's suitability from the complainant's supporting sources to resolve remaining questions.