EVIDENCE THAT TWO BIDDERS SHARE COMMON OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS AND HAVE SOME JOINT OWNERSHIP DOES NOT ESTABLISH THAT THE CERTIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT PRICING WAS VIOLATED. JURISDICTION IN SUCH MATTERS IS COMMITTED TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND FEDERAL COURTS. WHERE IT IS CLEAR THAT A PROTEST INVOLVES MATTERS WHICH GAO DOES NOT CONSIDER. GAO WILL DISMISS PROTEST WITHOUT HOLDING A CONFERENCE WHICH WOUL...

A firm protested an Army contract award alleging that the award was contrary to the Certificate of Independent Price Determination in the solicitation specifications because the awardee and another bidder shared joint ownership. The purpose of the certificate is to ensure that bidders do not collude to set prices and restrict competition which is a criminal offense. GAO has held that evidence that...