[Protests of HHS Contract Award for Clearinghouse Services]

A firm protested a Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) contract award for clearinghouse services, contending that HHS: (1) failed to provide the protester with pre-award notice; (2) failed to properly investigate the awardee's small business size status; (3) failed to provide the protester with a fair opportunity to revise its best and final offer (BAFO); (4) evaluated bids with unspecified evaluation criteria; and (5) made an improper cost/technical tradeoff in selecting the awardee. GAO held that HHS: (1) reasonably determined that the awardee qualified as a small business; notwithstanding a later Small Business Administration ruling; (2) conducted adequate discussions with the protester; (3) made a reasonable cost/technical tradeoff; and (4) properly evaluated bids. Accordingly, the protests were denied.