A firm protested the award of contracts made to two other shipping lines under a request for proposals (RFP) for the charter of ships to the Military Sealift Command (MSC). Under the RFP, the offerors were to warrant both the speed that the ships are capable of maintaining under normal conditions in moderate weather when fully laden, and the average consumption of fuel at that speed for 24 hours....

ANY POSSIBLE ADVANTAGE OFFERORS HAVE IN MISSTATING SPEED AND FUEL CONSUMPTION IN WARRANTY IS EQUALIZED BY PROVISIONS MAKING CONTRACTOR LIABLE FOR INCREASED COSTS TO GOVERNMENT. 2. ALLOWING OFFEROR TO CHANGE DURING NEGOTIATIONS SHIP PROPOSED FOR CHARTER CONTRACT BECAUSE MODIFICATIONS WOULD HAVE TO BE MADE TO SHIP TO BE ACCEPTABLE DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN IMPROPER EVEN IF CHANGE WAS MAJOR. SINCE...