[Protest of UNICOR Contract Award for Raw Material Used to Manufacture Mailbags]

A firm protested a Federal Prison Industries (UNICOR) contract award for raw material used to manufacture mailbags, contending that UNICOR: (1) improperly determined that unusual and compelling circumstances required a limited competition; (2) improperly denied it an opportunity to compete; and (3) should have ordered less than its entire requirement under the circumstances of limited competition. GAO held that UNICOR: (1) properly determined that an urgent situation existed which justified a limited competition; (2) attempted to contact the protester for a bid; and (3) properly ordered its entire requirement, since immediate purchase was necessary to secure a supplier and current prices. Accordingly, the protest was denied.