Carrier's Failure To Hold Operating Authority Makes Him Ineligible for Award

A common carrier who was the low offerer on a solicitation but did not hold an operating authority from the Interstate Commerce Commission proposed that the contracting officer have a substitute carrier sign the contract and assume responsibility or seek an emergency temporary operating authority for itself. Failure to have the operating authority which was a solicitation requirement made the offerer ineligible for award. A negotiated contract may not be awarded to a party which did not submit a timely proposal in the absence of a corporate acquisition, sale of an entire business, or transfer of the portion of the business embraced by the contract.