[Protest of Cancellation of NASA IFB for Pressure Vessel Testing]

A firm protested the cancellation of a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) solicitation for pressure vessel testing. NASA cancelled the solicitation because: (1) it needed to divert funds for the procurement to an investigation of an explosion at a NASA facility; and (2) the required services were covered by another contract. The protester contended that, since funds were available to procure the required services under the other contract, funds should have been available to procure them under the instant solicitation. GAO held that: (1) NASA properly exercised its discretion to divert the procurement funds; (2) the lack of funding was a valid reason for NASA to cancel the solicitation; and (3) since NASA properly cancelled the solicitation, it would not consider the matter of whether the duplicative nature of the solicitation was a valid reason for cancellation. Accordingly, the protest was denied.