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...

ATTORNEYS' FEES AND RELATED COSTS OF PURSUING A COMPLAINT REGARDING THE AWARD OF A CONTRACT UNDER A FEDERAL GRANT WILL NOT BE ALLOWED. BRUMM'S COMPLAINT WAS SUSTAINED BY THIS OFFICE IN OUR DECISION B-201613. CLAIMANTS WILL BE DISSUADED FROM BRINGING ILLEGAL ACTIONS TO THE ATTENTION OF OUR OFFICE. THIS OFFICE WILL NOT AWARD THE COST OF PURSUING A BID PROTEST IN DIRECT FEDERAL PROCUREMENTS BECAUSE O...