[Protest of Navy Issuance of Delivery Order for Aircraft Engine Turbine Shafts]

A firm protested a Navy delivery order for aircraft engine turbine shafts, contending that the order constituted an improper sole-source award, since the Navy: (1) failed to request quotes from two other qualified firms; and (2) intentionally allowed a critical shortage of the product to develop so that it could justify the sole-source award. GAO held that: (1) only the awardee could meet the Navy's urgent requirements, since the other two recently approved firms would need to undergo production lot sampling, which could delay the procurement; (2) the product shortage was due to the Navy's attempts to qualify additional sources and enhance competition; and (3) the Navy planned to acquire only its urgent requirements under the instant procurement and solicit quotes from the other two qualified bidders for its remaining, noncritical requirements. Accordingly, the protest was denied.