Skip to main content

B-173622, AUG 26, 1971

B-173622 Aug 26, 1971
Jump To:
Skip to Highlights

Highlights

THE PROTEST WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FURTHER. SECRETARY: REFERENCE IS MADE TO A REPORT DATED AUGUST 16. IT IS REPORTED THAT A LETTER WAS RECEIVED ON JUNE 7. FROM INTERNATIONAL ADVISING YOUR DEPARTMENT THAT IT WAS FORMALLY PROTESTING ANY AWARD TO CLEO ON THE BASIS THAT SUCH FIRM WAS NOT LICENSED TO DO BUSINESS IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. COUNSEL FOR INTERNATIONAL PROTESTED TO OUR OFFICE THAT CLEO WAS NOT A RESPONSIBLE FIRM UNDER THE PERTINENT SECTIONS OF THE FEDERAL PROCUREMENT REGULATIONS. THE RECORD INDICATES THAT CLEO WAS REQUESTED BY CERTIFIED MAIL ON JULY 22. IT IS REPORTED THAT CLEO DID NOT REPLY TO THE LETTER. SUCH BID IS INELIGIBLE FOR CONSIDERATION. IS RETURNED.

View Decision

B-173622, AUG 26, 1971

BID PROTEST - BID ACCEPTANCE PERIOD - EXPIRATION ADVISING THAT WITH REFERENCE TO THE PROTEST OF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORPORATION AGAINST ANY AWARD OF A CONTRACT FOR SECURITY GUARD SERVICE TO CLEO SECURITY SERVICES, SINCE CLEO PERMITTED ITS BID TO EXPIRE, THE PROTEST WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FURTHER.

TO MR. SECRETARY:

REFERENCE IS MADE TO A REPORT DATED AUGUST 16, 1971, WITH ENCLOSURES, FROM THE DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF PROPERTY DISPOSITION, CONCERNING THE PROTEST OF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORPORATION (INTERNATIONAL) UNDER INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB) 71-592, ISSUED MAY 20, 1971, BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, OFFICE OF PROPERTY DISPOSITION, CONTRACTING AND RECONDITIONING DIVISION.

THE SUBJECT INVITATION SOLICITED BIDS ON PROVIDING UNIFORMED SECURITY GUARD SERVICE, FOR A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR, AT THE ENVOY TOWERS, WASHINGTON, D.C.

BID OPENING, JUNE 3, 1971, REVEALED THE SUBMISSION OF BIDS BY SIX FIRMS WITH CLEO SECURITY SERVICES, INC. (CLEO), THE LOW BIDDER. ALL BIDDERS OFFERED THE 60 DAY PERIOD FOR ACCEPTANCE OF BIDS WHICH THE IFB SPECIFIED IN THE ABSENCE OF INSERTION OF A DIFFERENT PERIOD BY A BIDDER.

IT IS REPORTED THAT A LETTER WAS RECEIVED ON JUNE 7, 1971, FROM INTERNATIONAL ADVISING YOUR DEPARTMENT THAT IT WAS FORMALLY PROTESTING ANY AWARD TO CLEO ON THE BASIS THAT SUCH FIRM WAS NOT LICENSED TO DO BUSINESS IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

BY LETTER OF JULY 15, 1971, COUNSEL FOR INTERNATIONAL PROTESTED TO OUR OFFICE THAT CLEO WAS NOT A RESPONSIBLE FIRM UNDER THE PERTINENT SECTIONS OF THE FEDERAL PROCUREMENT REGULATIONS.

THE RECORD INDICATES THAT CLEO WAS REQUESTED BY CERTIFIED MAIL ON JULY 22, 1971, TO EXTEND ITS BID ACCEPTANCE PERIOD TO PERMIT TIME TO RESOLVE INTERNATIONAL'S PROTEST. IT IS REPORTED THAT CLEO DID NOT REPLY TO THE LETTER, AND THAT ON JULY 23 A REPRESENTATIVE FOR CLEO ADVISED YOUR CONTRACTING OFFICIALS THAT THE FIRM WOULD NOT EXTEND THE ACCEPTANCE PERIOD.

SINCE CLEO PERMITTED ITS BID TO EXPIRE AS OF AUGUST 3, 1971, SUCH BID IS INELIGIBLE FOR CONSIDERATION, THEREBY RENDERING ACADEMIC THE PROTEST OF INTERNATIONAL AGAINST AN AWARD TO CLEO.

THE FILE TRANSMITTED WITH THE REPORT OF AUGUST 16, 1971, IS RETURNED.

GAO Contacts

Office of Public Affairs