[Protest of USDA Exclusion of Bidder From Competition]

A firm protested that the Department of Agriculture (USDA) improperly excluded it from competition under a small business set-aside for videotape editing services, contending that USDA: (1) improperly prevented it from bidding; (2) should resolicit so that it could submit a bid; and (3) should reimburse it for its protest costs. GAO held that: (1) USDA improperly failed to provide a copy of the solicitation to the protester; and (2) the protester was entitled to reimbursement for its protest costs. Accordingly, the protest was sustained, and GAO recommended that USDA cancel the solicitation and resolicit.