B-216618: Jul 9, 1985

A firm protested a contract award to another firm under an Army solicitation for the arrangement of government travel services, contending that the Army improperly evaluated both proposals and failed to conduct discussions with either offerer. GAO held that it would not consider the protest because an agency's selection of a travel agent is merely a management vehicle to facilitate travel arrangem...

B-216618: Jul 9, 1985

TRANSPORTATION - TRAVEL AGENCIES - USE APPROVED AGENCY'S COMPETITIVE SELECTION OF A CONTRACTOR TO MAKE TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES IS EXEMPT FROM THE PROCUREMENT STATUTES SINCE THE CONTRACTUAL ARRANGEMENT IS ONLY A MANAGEMENT VEHICLE TO OBTAIN TRAVEL SERVICES WHICH THEMSELVES ARE EXEMPT FROM PROCUREMENT PROCEDURES. INSTEAD THE CONTRACTOR IS PAID COMMISSIONS FROM COMMON CARRIERS THAT...