[Protest of Army Contract Award for Removal of Harbor Debris]

A firm protested an Army contract award for the collection, removal, and disposal of derelict vessels, structures, and other harbor debris, contending that the Army: (1) should have awarded it the contract since it was the low bidder; and (2) did not seek the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) reevaluation of its rejected request for an ocean disposal permit. GAO held that the: (1) solicitation clearly stated the requirement for EPA approval of the protester's proposed disposal method; (2) Army reasonably concluded that it had no further justification to present for EPA reconsideration of the rejected request; and (3) Army properly awarded the contract to the low bidder whose disposal method met EPA approval. Accordingly, the protest was denied.