B-215891: Dec 3, 1984

A firm protested the Department of Energy's (DOE) sale of a petroleum reserve facility, arguing that: (1) DOE issued a defective invitation for bids (IFB) because it did not contain the best current petroleum price estimate; and (2) DOE should have issued an amendment to the IFB immediately after the protest was filed. GAO noted that DOE has a certain amount of discretion in the sale of reserve pe...

B-215891: Dec 3, 1984

THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (DOE) IS AUTHORIZED TO CONDUCT SALES OF NAVAL PETROLEUM RESERVE PETROLEUM PRODUCTS. IMMEDIATE AGENCY ACTION WAS NOT POSSIBLE BECAUSE SOLICITATION DID NOT PERMIT INCREASING QUANTITIES WITHOUT AMENDMENT. DOE SHOULD HAVE TAKEN STEPS TO REVISE THE SALE ESTIMATES. OR THAT AN AMENDMENT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ISSUED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER ITS PROTEST WAS FILED. OR T...