B-274624: Dec 19, 1996

An individual protested a Forest Service purchase order for forest thinning, contending that the Service: (1) improperly issued the purchase order before receiving his quotation; and (2) gave the awardee preferential treatment because of its participation in the Small Business Administration's section 8(a) program. GAO held that: (1) the Forest Service reasonably decided not to consider the protes...

B-274624: Dec 19, 1996

Agency decision to reject protester's late quotation was unobjectionable where award at a reasonable price had been made prior to receipt of the late quotation. The RFQ was issued by the Forest Service on August 21. As a small business set-aside under simplified acquisition procedures and was sent to 10 companies. The phone was not answered. The contracting officer contacted the employee to whom t...