Sabreliner Corporation

A firm protested a Department of the Army's proposed contract award for engineering services and the overhaul of helicopter engines, contending that the Army improperly determined that the awardee was the only responsible source capable of meeting the government's needs for the contract. GAO held that the decision was not reasonably based where the justification and approval prepared in support of the decision were inconsistent and inaccurate. Accordingly, the protest was sustained, and GAO recommended that the Army: (1) reassess whether a sole-source contract with the awardee is necessary to meet its needs with regard to the engineering services, (2) if the Army reasonably determines that the award of contract is necessary, the Army should execute a properly reasoned and accurate justification and award and properly synopsize its requirement, (3) develop the data sufficient to permit the overhaul services to be competed, and then competitively procure the overhaul services, and (4) reimburse the protester for the reasonable costs associated with filing and pursuing their protest, including reasonable attorney's fees.