[Protests of DLA Contract Awards for Piston Housing Assemblies]

A firm protested three Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) contract awards for piston housing assemblies, contending that: (1) since it supplied its acceptable product to DLA under earlier contracts, DLA improperly required it to qualify as a source; and (2) it was the low offeror. GAO held that the protests were academic, since DLA reasonably delayed contract performance until the protester obtained source approval or until it could resolicit its requirements on a more competitive basis. Accordingly, the protests were dismissed.