Protest against Composite Wage Rate Determination for Five-State Region

A company protested award of any contract, alleging that the wage determination included with the solicitation did not comply with the Service Contract Act because the wage rates were composite rates for the entire five-State region and did not reflect those prevailing in the localities where the services would be provided. Separate wage determinations for each service area, rather than a single composite wage determination, are more appropriate, but GAO will not object to the use of composite rates because it appears that the Department of Labor learned that specific areas were designated only after the solicitation was issued.