[Protests of NCUA Contract Awards for Training and Software]

A firm protested two National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) contract awards for training and software, contending that NCUA improperly: (1) favored the awardee in its bid evaluation; and (2) made award to a higher bidder. GAO held that NCUA improperly awarded the contracts based on initial offers to other than the low, technically acceptable bidder. Accordingly, the protests were sustained, and GAO recommended that NCUA: (1) reopen discussions with all bidders and request final offers, or award the contracts to the protester as the low, technically acceptable bidder, if otherwise appropriate; and (2) reimburse the protester for its protest costs.