[Protest of Department of Education Contract Award for Regional Laboratory Operation and Support Services]

A firm protested a Department of Education contract award for regional educational laboratory operation and support services, contending that: (1) (1) the awardee's proposed governing board did not comply with the solicitation's requirements and law governing its composition; (2) Education improperly evaluated the awardee's bid; (3) the awardee engaged in improper bait-and-switch tactics regarding its proposed personnel; and (4) Education performed an improper cost/technical tradeoff in selecting the awardee's higher-priced, technically inferior bid. GAO held that: (1) there was no evidence that the awardee's bid failed to comply with the solicitation's governing board requirements; (2) the awardee did not engage in improper bait-and-switch tactics; (3) Education properly evaluated the awardee's bid in accordance with the solicitation's evaluation criteria; and (4) Education performed a proper cost/technical tradeoff in selecting the awardee's slightly higher-priced, technically superior bid. Accordingly, the protest was denied.