B-236822, Sep 8, 1989, 89-2 CPD 224
Highlights
We have previously held that imposition of a reasonable fee to cover the expenses of providing copies of bid documents is permitted. There is no basis to object to the Army's decision in this case to impose a modest fee on prospective bidders for the specifications and drawings. The protest is dismissed.
B-236822, Sep 8, 1989, 89-2 CPD 224
PROCUREMENT - Bid Protests - Administrative policies - GAO review DIGEST: Contracting agency may properly charge modest fee for solicitation documents to cover costs of providing them.
Consolidated Co-op:
Consolidated Co-op protests the Army's decision to charge prospective bidders a $25 fee to receive a copy of the specifications and drawings in connection with invitation for bids (IFB) No. DAAC79-89 B-0107. dismiss the protest.
The User Charge Statute, 31 U.S.C. Sec. 9701(a) (1982), expresses the sense of Congress that any work, service, publication or similar things of value or utility performed by federal agencies be self sustaining to the full extent possible, provided that no law prohibits the collection of a charge for the service. In view of this statute, we have previously held that imposition of a reasonable fee to cover the expenses of providing copies of bid documents is permitted. W.B. Jolley, B-209933, June 6, 1983, 83-1 CPD Para. 609. Accordingly, there is no basis to object to the Army's decision in this case to impose a modest fee on prospective bidders for the specifications and drawings.
The protest is dismissed.