B-211859: Jun 6, 1983

A firm protested the cancellation of an invitation for bids (IFB) for the installation of a ventilation system in a Veterans Administration (VA) medical center. VA canceled the IFB for insufficient funds after bid opening. Federal regulations require that a contracting officer have a compelling reason to reject all bids and cancel a solicitation after bids have been opened. GAO has held that an ag...

B-211859: Jun 6, 1983

DIGEST: A CONTRACTING AGENCY MAY PROPERLY CANCEL A SOLICITATION AFTER BID OPENING WHERE IT DETERMINES THAT SUFFICIENT FUNDS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR AWARD. CONTRACTING OFFICERS HAVE BROAD DISCRETION TO CANCEL A SOLICITATION. BECAUSE THE CANCELLATION OF A SOLICITATION AFTER BID OPENING AND AFTER PRICES ARE EXPOSED TENDS TO DISCOURAGE COMPETITION. THE FEDERAL PROCUREMENT REGULATIONS (FPR) AND OUR CASES...