Request for Attorneys' Fees

A firm requested reimbursement for costs, including attorneys' fees, of pursuing a grant complaint regarding a procurement. The firm believed that, absent such reimbursement, claimants will be dissuaded from bringing illegal actions to the attention of GAO. However, GAO will not award the cost of pursuing a bid protest in direct Federal procurements absent specific legal authority to do so. Since GAO was not aware of any such legal authority to grant such an award, the request was denied.