Two firms protested the Navy's determination that the costs of operating and maintaining two auxiliary hospital ships in-house would be less than the costs of contracting for the required services. GAO held that the protesters were not sufficiently interested to protest, since they were not in line for award and did not have a direct economic interest in the procurement. Accordingly, the protests...

PROCUREMENT - Bid Protests - GAO procedures - Interested parties - Direct interest standards DIGEST: Protesters are not interested parties to protest an agency's estimate of the cost of in-house performance. Where they would not be in line for award if the protest was sustained. Another offer priced lower than either of the protesters' offers is in line for award. Provide that we will only conside...