Skip to main content

B-241038, Oct 24, 1990, 90-2 CPD ***

B-241038 Oct 24, 1990
Jump To:
Skip to Highlights

Highlights

PROCUREMENT- Socio-Economic Policies - Disadvantaged business set asides - Use - Administrative discretion asides - Use - Administrative DIGEST: Department of Defense's objective of awarding 5 percent of the dollar value of its contracts to small disadvantaged business concerns is a goal. The protester generally alleges that a disproportionate number of base housing maintenance contracts are being set aside by the Air Force for SDBs. The Secretary of Defense is required to issue regulations to ensure progress toward meeting this 5 percent goal. DOD's stated objective of awarding 5 percent of the dollar value of its contracts to SDBs is a goal. There is no reason why the award of a contract to an SDB should be invalidated since the 5 percent goal is not applied individually to each standard industrial classification group.

View Decision

B-241038, Oct 24, 1990, 90-2 CPD ***

PROCUREMENT- Socio-Economic Policies - Disadvantaged business set asides - Use - Administrative discretion asides - Use - Administrative DIGEST: Department of Defense's objective of awarding 5 percent of the dollar value of its contracts to small disadvantaged business concerns is a goal, not a cap or ceiling which cannot be exceeded.

Attorneys

Crimson Enterprises, Inc.:

Crimson Enterprises, Inc., a small business concern, protests the decision of the Department of the Air Force to set aside for small disadvantaged business (SDB) concerns request for proposals (RFP) No. F08637-90-R-0011 for military housing maintenance at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. The protester generally alleges that a disproportionate number of base housing maintenance contracts are being set aside by the Air Force for SDBs.

We dismiss the protest because it fails to state a valid basis of protest. Bid Protest Regulations, 4 C.F.R. Sec. 21.3(m) (1990).

Pursuant to section 1207 of the Defense Authorization Act of 1987, 10 U.S.C. Sec. 2301 note (1988), Congress left to the discretion of the Department of Defense (DOD) the promulgation of regulations and procedures necessary to achieve the stated goal of awarding 5 percent of the dollar value of its contracts to SDB concerns. John Bowman, Inc., B-237543, Aug. 28, 1990, 90-2 CPD Para. 165. The Secretary of Defense is required to issue regulations to ensure progress toward meeting this 5 percent goal. Id.; see Pub.L. 100-180, Sec. 806(b), 10 U.S.C. Sec. 2301 note (1988). DOD has established by regulation the SDB set-aside program. DOD Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement Sec. 219.502-72 (DAC 88-13). DOD's stated objective of awarding 5 percent of the dollar value of its contracts to SDBs is a goal, not a cap or ceiling which cannot be exceeded. Even if DOD has exceeded the 5 percent goal of awards to SDBs in any particular industry group, there is no reason why the award of a contract to an SDB should be invalidated since the 5 percent goal is not applied individually to each standard industrial classification group. See Logistical Support, Inc., 67 Comp.Gen. 381 (1988), 88-1 CPD Para. 385.

GAO Contacts

Office of Public Affairs