Skip to main content

B-224411.2, AUG 11, 1986, 86-2 CPD 179

B-224411.2 Aug 11, 1986
Jump To:
Skip to Highlights

Highlights

CONTRACTS - PROTESTS - GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE PROCEDURES - RECONSIDERATION REQUESTS - ERROR OF FACT OR LAW - NOT ESTABLISHED DIGEST: PRIOR DECISION IS AFFIRMED WHERE REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION. OUR GROUND OF DISMISSAL WAS THAT EPIC WAS ONLY THE FOURTH LOW BIDDER. SINCE THE AMENDMENT INCREASED THE SCOPE OF WORK UNDER THE IFB IT WAS NOT PLAUSIBLE THAT THE PROTESTER'S BID WOULD HAVE REDUCED HAD IT RECEIVED THE AMENDMENT. WE CONCLUDED THAT EPIC WOULD NOT BE IN LINE FOR THE AWARD EVEN ITS PROTEST WERE UPHELD AND THAT IT THEREFORE COULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AN INTERESTED PARTY UNDER OUR BID PROTEST REGULATIONS. 4 C.F.R. ALSO DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE AMENDMENT AND POINTS OUT THAT OUR STATEMENT THAT ALL OF THE LOWER BIDDERS HAD RECEIVED THE AMENDMENT WAS THEREFORE INACCURATE.

View Decision

B-224411.2, AUG 11, 1986, 86-2 CPD 179

CONTRACTS - PROTESTS - GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE PROCEDURES - RECONSIDERATION REQUESTS - ERROR OF FACT OR LAW - NOT ESTABLISHED DIGEST: PRIOR DECISION IS AFFIRMED WHERE REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION, WHILE REVEALING AN INACCURATE STATEMENT IN THE PRIOR DECISION, DOES NOT SHOW AND ERROR OF FACT OR LAW THAT WOULD WARRANT REVERSAL OF OUR DECISION.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION INSPECTION AND CONSULTING, INC.-- RECONSIDERATION:

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION INSPECTION AND CONSULTING, INC. (EPIC) REQUESTS RECONSIDERATION OF OUR DECISION IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION INSPECTION AND CONSULTING, INC., B-224411, JULY 21, 1986, 86-2 CPD PARA. ***. IN THAT DECISION, WE DISMISSED EPIC'S PROTEST THAT THE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION (GSA) HAD FAILED TO SEND IT A COPY OF AN AMENDMENT TO INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB) NO. 6PPB-86-0048. OUR GROUND OF DISMISSAL WAS THAT EPIC WAS ONLY THE FOURTH LOW BIDDER, AND SINCE THE AMENDMENT INCREASED THE SCOPE OF WORK UNDER THE IFB IT WAS NOT PLAUSIBLE THAT THE PROTESTER'S BID WOULD HAVE REDUCED HAD IT RECEIVED THE AMENDMENT. WE ALSO NOTED THAT ALL THE LOWER BIDDERS RECEIVED THE AMENDMENT. ACCORDINGLY, WE CONCLUDED THAT EPIC WOULD NOT BE IN LINE FOR THE AWARD EVEN ITS PROTEST WERE UPHELD AND THAT IT THEREFORE COULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AN INTERESTED PARTY UNDER OUR BID PROTEST REGULATIONS. 4 C.F.R. SEC. 21.1(A) (1986).

EPIC CONTENDS THAT THE AGENCY'S BID ABSTRACT INDICATES THAT THE LOW BIDDER, HUB TESTING, INC., ALSO DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE AMENDMENT AND POINTS OUT THAT OUR STATEMENT THAT ALL OF THE LOWER BIDDERS HAD RECEIVED THE AMENDMENT WAS THEREFORE INACCURATE.

THE AGENCY HAS VERIFIED EPIC'S CONTENTION. THE LOW BIDDER DID FAIL TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE AMENDMENT, AND ITS BID WAS REJECTED AS NONRESPONSIVE ON THIS BASIS. HOWEVER, IN ORDER TO BE AN INTERESTED PARTY, THE PROTESTER WOULD HAVE TO BE IN A POSITION TO RECEIVE THE AWARD IF IT PREVAILED WITH ITS PROTEST; HERE, THAT WOULD REQUIRE SHOWING THAT ALL THREE OF THE LOWER BIDDERS WERE INELIGIBLE FOR AWARD. SINCE THE ELIGIBILITY OF THE SECOND AND THIRD LOW BIDDERS HAS NOT BEEN CHALLENGED IN ANY WAY, EPIC STILL DOES NOT HAVE THE REQUISITE INTEREST TO PROTEST THIS PROCUREMENT.

OUR PRIOR DECISION IS AFFIRMED.

GAO Contacts

Office of Public Affairs