[Protest of DSS Contract Award for Safety and Security Services]
Highlights
A firm protested a Defense Supply Service (DSS) contract award for safety and security services, contending that DSS improperly determined that the awardee's bid was realistic, since its bid under a prior contract was significantly lower. GAO held that DSS reasonably: (1) determined that the awardee's proposed costs were realistic; (2) considered the effect of cost reductions on contract performance; and (3) concluded that the cost reductions did not affect the awardee's superior technical rating. Accordingly, the protest was denied.
A-26753, APRIL 13, 1929, 8 COMP. GEN. 546
TRANSPORTATION REQUESTS - FOREIGN COUNTRIES THE REQUIREMENT THAT TRANSPORTATION REQUESTS BE USED FOR ALL OFFICIAL TRAVEL BY OFFICERS OR EMPLOYEES OF THE UNITED STATES BY COMMON CARRIER IS LIMITED TO TRANSPORTATION WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR UPON SUCH STEAMSHIP LINES AS HAVE PORTS WITHIN THE UNITED STATES.
COMPTROLLER GENERAL MCCARL TO THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE, APRIL 13, 1929:
THERE HAS BEEN RECEIVED YOUR LETTER OF MARCH 27, 1929, REQUESTING DECISION WHETHER GOVERNMENT TRANSPORTATION REQUESTS ARE REQUIRED TO BE USED FOR TRAVEL PERFORMED IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES AND WHETHER A STATEMENT MUST BE MADE ON ALL VOUCHERS CLAIMING REIMBURSEMENT FOR TRANSPORTATION PAID FOR IN CASH, GIVING THE REASON WHY IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO USE TRANSPORTATION REQUESTS.
PARAGRAPH 17 OF THE STANDARDIZED GOVERNMENT TRAVEL REGULATIONS, EFFECTIVE MARCH 1, 1929, PROVIDES FOR THE USE OF TRANSPORTATION REQUEST AS FOLLOWS:
DEFINITION.--- A TRANSPORTATION REQUEST IS AN ORDER BY PROPER AUTHORITY UPON THE PRESCRIBED STANDARD FORM FOR SPECIFIED PASSENGER, SLEEPING-CAR, PARLOR-CAR, STATEROOM, OR OTHER COMMONLY RECOGNIZED TRANSPORTATION ACCOMMODATIONS, INCLUDING ESTABLISHED AUTOBUS OR STAGE COACH LINES, FOR PRESENTATION BY PERSONS TRAVELING ON OFFICIAL BUSINESS TO TRANSPORTATION COMPANIES IN THE UNITED STATES AND STEAMSHIP LINES HAVING PORTS WITHIN THE UNITED STATES FOR EXCHANGE BY THEM FOR SUCH ACCOMMODATIONS. SUCH REQUESTS WILL NOT BE FURNISHED FOR STATEROOM ACCOMMODATIONS WHEN SUCH ACCOMMODATIONS ARE INCLUDED IN COST OF PASSAGE TICKET. (SEE PAR. 20.)
THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT THAT TRANSPORTATION REQUESTS BE USED FOR TRAVEL PERFORMED IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES AND, AS TO TRAVEL IN SUCH COUNTRIES, IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO MAKE ANY EXPLANATION UPON THE VOUCHERS FOR THE FAILURE TO USE TRANSPORTATION REQUESTS. WHERE THE TRAVEL IS PERFORMED WITHIN THE UNITED STATES, HOWEVER, OR UPON A STEAMSHIP LINE HAVING A PORT WITHIN THE UNITED STATES, AND REIMBURSEMENT FOR CASH FARE INVOLVING $1 OR MORE IS CLAIMED THE VOUCHER SHOULD CONTAIN A STATEMENT OF THE REASON THAT IT WAS NOT PRACTICABLE TO USE A TRANSPORTATION REQUEST. SEE PARAGRAPH 20 OF THE REGULATIONS, SUPRA. ..END :