Avalon Integrated Services Corporation

A firm protested a Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) contract award for strategic support communications services, contending that the agency failed to conduct discussions with it and the agency misevaluated its proposal. GAO found that, in competitive procurement under the Federal Supply Schedule program, agencies are not required to conduct discussions, even in the absence of a solicitation clause warning vendors that the award might be made without discussions; and (2) FHWA was not required to hold discussions with vendors prior to selecting the vendor with which to place the order. Accordingly, the protest was denied.