[Protest of Marine Corps Contract Award for Upgrading or Replacing Fire Alarm Reporting System]

A firm protested a Marine Corps contract award for service to a fire alarm reporting system, contending that: (1) only the awardee's equipment could meet the unduly restrictive specifications; and (2) the Corps should have used sealed-bid procedures. GAO held that: (1) the government had no obligation to equalize a competitive advantage that a potential bidder enjoyed as a result of a prior government contract unless the advantage resulted from unfair motives on the part of the contracting agency; (2) it would not disturb an agency's judgment absent a showing of unreasonableness; and (3) a mere difference of opinion between the protester and the contracting agency concerning the best method of meeting the agency's needs was not sufficient to render the agency's method improper. Accordingly, the protest was denied.