A firm protested the award of a contract for furniture under an invitation for bids (IFB) issued by the Air Force. The protester, an unsuccessful bidder on the contract, contended that the Air Force should not have utilized the IFB to obtain the furniture, because it had a Federal supply schedule (FSS) contract with the General Services Administration which included the identical furniture require...

IS UNTIMELY BECAUSE IT CONCERNS AN ALLEGED SOLICITATION IMPROPRIETY WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN RAISED PRIOR TO THE BID OPENING DATE. AFTER RECEIVING NOTICE THAT HERTZ WAS AWARDED A CONTRACT. CONTENDED THAT THE AIR FORCE SHOULD NOT HAVE UTILIZED THE IFB TO OBTAIN THE FURNITURE. THE BASIS FOR THAT CONTENTION IS THE EXISTENCE OF A FEDERAL SUPPLY SCHEDULE CONTRACT BETWEEN PULASKI AND THE GENERAL SERVICES...