[Protest of SEC Contract Award for Stenographic Reporting and Transcription Services]

A firm protested a Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) contract award for stenographic reporting and transcription services, contending that: (1) the solicitation unduly restricted competition, since it provided for only one award for services at several locations; and (2) GAO should waive its untimely protest, because GAO could sustain the protest and recommend that SEC not exercise the remaining options without disrupting the service. GAO held that the: (1) protester untimely filed its protest more than 10 days after initial adverse agency action; and (2) protest was not of sufficient significance to warrant waiver under protest timeliness rules. Accordingly, the protest was dismissed.