B-277095: Sep 2, 1997

A firm protested the terms of a Navy Public Works Center solicitation for installation of a radio fire alarm reporting system, contending that the: (1) brand-name specification was unnecessarily restrictive of competition; and (2) Navy should have used an invitation for bids rather than a request for quotations to solicit its requirements. GAO held that the Navy: (1) demonstrated a reasonable basi...

B-277095: Sep 2, 1997

DIGEST Agency may reasonably restrict competition for fire alarm reporting system to equipment of a particular manufacturer where this manufacturer is the only one that can provide Factory Mutual-approved equipment capable of interfacing with equipment already installed at the agency. Where estimated value of procurement was beneath the simplified acquisition threshold of $100. Agency's use of sim...