Protest of Award of Surplus Property

An individual protested the General Services Administration's (GSA) sale of a 45-foot diesel harbor tug under an invitation for bids. The bids were tied, so a coin was tossed to determine the awardee. The protester alleged that: (1) the mechanics of the toss were not clearly visible, (2) there were no formal recordings of witnesses that were at the opening who could impartially judge the winning toss, and (3) the opportunity to contact legal counsel was denied. The record showed that the protester was a witness to the coin toss and its outcome and that the contracting officer did not recall a request by the individual to contact legal representation. Since the record indicated that the regulations governing the bids were properly followed, the protest was denied.