[Protest of Customs Service Contract Award for Cartage Services]

A firm protested a Customs Service contract award to another firm for cartage services, contending that: (1) a conflict of interest existed because the awardee's vice president was a former Customs official; (2) the awardee was not properly licensed; and (3) the awardee's bid was below the applicable tariff rate. GAO held that: (1) the protester supplied no evidence that the contract award resulted from improper influence; and (2) the other portions of the protest were untimely filed because GAO did not receive them within 10 days of the time the protester became aware of the basis for protest. Accordingly, the protest was denied in part and dismissed in part.