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B-201455 L/M, DEC 30, 1980

B-201455 L/M Dec 30, 1980
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YOU STATE THAT YOU EXPECT THAT THE SPECIFICATION WILL BE INCLUDED IN A SOLICITATION FOR THE SERVICE TO BE ISSUED IN APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS. ARE RESERVED FOR CONSIDERING WHETHER AN AWARD OR PROPOSED AWARD OF A CONTRACT COMPLIES WITH STATUTORY. SINCE YOUR LETTER INDICATES THAT YOU ARE NOT ACTUALLY PROTESTING AN AWARD OR A PROPOSED AWARD. RATHER A SPECIFICATION THAT YOU EXPECT WILL BE INCLUDED IN A FUTURE PROCUREMENT. THE PROTEST IS PREMATURE AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED AT THIS TIME. WE SUGGEST THAT ONCE THE EXPECTED SOLICITATION IS ISSUED YOU PROTEST THE MATTER IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FILING REQUIREMENTS OF OUR PROCEDURES. WE RECOGNIZE THAT YOU HAVE PROTESTED AT THIS TIME BECAUSE YOU BELIEVE IT IS NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS ADEQUATE TIME BEFORE THE NEXT SOLICITATION IS ISSUED TO REVIEW THE FOOD STAMP PROGRAM.

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B-201455 L/M, DEC 30, 1980

OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL

MOORE BUSINESS FORMS, INC.:

ATTENTION: JOHN ANDERSON, MANAGER:

WE REFER TO YOUR LETTER OF DECEMBER 4, 1980, PROTESTING AN ALLEGEDLY RESTRICTIVE SPECIFICATION IN SOLICITATIONS TO PRINT FOOD COUPONS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. YOU STATE THAT YOU EXPECT THAT THE SPECIFICATION WILL BE INCLUDED IN A SOLICITATION FOR THE SERVICE TO BE ISSUED IN APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS.

OUR BID PROTEST PROCEDURES, 4 C.F.R. PART 20 (1980), ARE RESERVED FOR CONSIDERING WHETHER AN AWARD OR PROPOSED AWARD OF A CONTRACT COMPLIES WITH STATUTORY, REGULATORY OR OTHER LEGAL REQUIREMENTS. SEE SCHURR TRANSPORT, INC., B-192476, SEPTEMBER 26, 1978, 78-2 CPD 402. SINCE YOUR LETTER INDICATES THAT YOU ARE NOT ACTUALLY PROTESTING AN AWARD OR A PROPOSED AWARD, BUT RATHER A SPECIFICATION THAT YOU EXPECT WILL BE INCLUDED IN A FUTURE PROCUREMENT, THE PROTEST IS PREMATURE AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED AT THIS TIME. SEE KOOLSHADE CORPORATION, B-197897, SEPTEMBER 2, 1980, 80-2 CPD 164. SHOULD YOU DESIRE OUR CONSIDERATION OF THE PROPRIETY OF THE SPECIFICATION IN A BID PROTEST CONTEXT, WE SUGGEST THAT ONCE THE EXPECTED SOLICITATION IS ISSUED YOU PROTEST THE MATTER IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FILING REQUIREMENTS OF OUR PROCEDURES.

WE RECOGNIZE THAT YOU HAVE PROTESTED AT THIS TIME BECAUSE YOU BELIEVE IT IS NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS ADEQUATE TIME BEFORE THE NEXT SOLICITATION IS ISSUED TO REVIEW THE FOOD STAMP PROGRAM. FOR YOUR INFORMATION, OUR OFFICE HAS PREVIOUSLY SUGGESTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE'S FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICE THAT IT EXPLORE WAYS TO REDUCE COSTS AND INCREASE COMPETITION FOR PRINTING FOOD STAMP COUPONS. RESPONSE, THE SERVICE HAS ADVISED US THAT A STUDY GROUP HAS BEEN FORMED TO ANALYZE FOOD COUPON PROCUREMENT, AND IS EXPECTED TO REPORT THE RESULTS OF THE ANALYSIS IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

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