[Protest of Education Sole-Source Contract Award]

A firm protested a Department of Education sole-source award, contending that it was capable of performing the contract and that Education failed to justify the procurement method. Education advised that a pressing need existed for objective and scientifically expert information and only the awardee was able to meet those needs. GAO has held that an agency can justify a sole-source award by showing that it reasonably believed that there was only one source of supply. Since Education's justification was reasonable, award was proper. Accordingly, the protest was denied.