Awards Made Under the Transportation Control Plan Public Affairs Program

A review was made of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) practice of awarding contracts on a noncompetitive negotiated basis. EPA justified the sole-source procurements on the grounds that the awardees were nonprofit, tax exempt, or volunteer organizations which were from a cross section of communities and possessed rapport and understanding of State and local Government, key memberships, respected positions, community support, and a coalition approach. It was held that these were not proper justifications for the sole-source procurements since full and free competition consistent with what is being procured is required.