[Decision Concerning Claim for Reimbursement for Attorneys' Fees Under GSA Solicitation]

A firm claimed full reimbursement for the legal fees it incurred in its protest against allegedly defective specifications in a General Services Administration solicitation for floor tiles. GAO held that the protester was entitled to: (1) reimbursement for the costs related to its successful protest concerning the antimicrobial tile specification, but not for its unsuccessful protest against the vinyl hardback carpet specification; and (2) compensation at the hourly rates customarily charged by its attorneys, since the charges were in line with the prevailing rates for similar services. Accordingly, the claim was denied in part and sustained in part.