Requirement That Bidders Be Approved Sources for Items on Qualified Products Lists

The protester objected to the rejection of its offer of items for which it was not an approved source. The agency's position that only bids submitted by approved sources under qualified products list procurements could be considered responsive was an overly restrictive interpretation of the qualified products list requirements and would make the qualified products list a qualified bidders list. Such prequalification of bidders results in an unwarranted restriction on competition. Although no corrective action was possible in this procurement, the agency was requested to take corrective action with regard to future procurements.