[Protest of Proposed Air Force Contract Award]
Highlights
A firm protested the proposed award of a contract to another firm by the Air Force, contending that the proposed awardee gained an unfair competitive advantage by obtaining confidential information about the protester. The protester also contended that the bid of the second low bidder should be rejected. GAO held that the alleged unfair competitive advantage was a matter of private improper business practices and not for consideration under bid protest procedures. GAO further held that, since the proposed awardee would remain the low bidder regardless of any impropriety in the second low bid, the protester was not an interested party such that allegations regarding the bid could be considered. Accordingly, the protest was dismissed.