B-208343: Nov 10, 1982

An individual protested a Forest Service contract award for leasing office space, alleging that: (1) the contracting officer's decision was inconsistent with the solicitation's evaluation factors, especially considering the protester's lower priced offer; and (2) the evaluation was biased in favor of another offeror. The evaluation team determined that the awardee's offer was most advantageous to...

B-208343: Nov 10, 1982

IN NEGOTIATED PROCUREMENT THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT THAT AWARD BE MADE TO LOWEST COST OFFEROR. LOWER COST PROPOSAL IF DOING SO IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE GOVERNMENT. 2. DETERMINATION OF RELATIVE MERITS OF PROPOSALS IS WITHIN DISCRETION OF CONTRACTING AGENCY AND WILL NOT BE OVERRULED BY THIS OFFICE WITHOUT A CLEAR SHOWING OF UNREASONABLENESS. 3. BIAS IN THE EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS WILL NOT BE ATT...