[Protest of DLA Rejection of Bid for Metallic Tubing]

B-282843: Aug 30, 1999

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A firm protested the Defense Logistics Agency's (DLA) rejection of its bid for metallic tubing, contending that DLA unreasonably: (1) failed to evaluate its product; and (2) conducted the sole source procurement. GAO held that DLA failed to: (1) justify its sole source decision in selecting the awardee's bid; and (2) provide the protester the opportunity to demonstrate the acceptability of its product. Accordingly, the protest was sustained, and GAO recommended that DLA: (1) determine whether its need for the tubing is urgent and, if so, execute a proper sole source procurement; (2) determine, for future competitions, whether the tubing is the only product that would satisfy its needs or whether it could procure a comparable product; (3) provide the protester an opportunity to qualify its alternate product; and (4) reimburse the protester for its protest costs.