Protests Regarding Request for Proposals and Evaluation of Proposals

The protester objected to the award of a contract, alleging that proposals were improperly evaluated and that the contract award did not meet the agency's minimum needs. Although there was basis for some concern regarding the adequacy of the justification for an amendment to the solicitation providing for the purchase of additional quantities, there was no objection to the award since the record indicated that there was a reasonable basis for the agency's determination of its minimum needs. There was also no basis to object to the award to the higher-priced technically superior proposal since the solicitation specified that technical considerations were most important, even though the specific numerical evaluation formula was not disclosed. There was no basis to object to the preaward survey of the protester where the agency considered the protester a possible candidate for award. Protests regarding the solicitation specifications were untimely since they were not submitted prior to the closing date for receipt of proposals.