A firm protested a Social Security Administration computer services contract award, contending that the 1981 award should be canceled and the award made to it. The protester also claimed proposal preparation costs. The protester based its protest on the Government's allegation that the awardee conducted itself improperly during preaward tests. GAO noted that the awardee's hardware deliveries had b...

PROTEST OBJECTING TO CONTRACT AWARDED MORE THAN 2 YEARS AGO IS ACADEMIC. BECAUSE HARDWARE DELIVERIES ARE SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE AND IT IS UNLIKELY THAT INVALIDATION OF AWARD WOULD RESULT IN NEW AWARD TO PROTESTER UNDER THE ORIGINAL SOLICITATION. 2. AWARD OF PROPOSAL PREPARATION COSTS IS ONLY JUSTIFIED IF THE CLAIMANT SHOWS BOTH THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S CONDUCT TOWARDS THE CLAIMANT WAS ARBITRARY AND C...