Protest of Solicitation Deleting Set-Aside Requirement

A firm protested the multiple awards of contracts for items of office furniture used by the executive branch of the Government. The firm contended that the General Services Administration was not making a serious attempt to find small business set-asides. The firm also alleged that the solicitation required a small business to quote delivered prices that included freight costs, while large businesses could "gang orders" to achieve freight economies. In reply to this criticism, GAO held that the purpose of competitive procurement is not to ensure that all offerors face the same odds in competing for Government contracts. A bidder may have an advantage in lower shipping costs because of a favorable geographic location, but this situation would be unrelated to a bidder's status as either a large or small business. The protest was denied.