[Protest of NIH Contract Award for Technical Support Services]

A firm protested a National Institutes of Health (NIH) contract award for technical support services, contending that NIH inaccurately: (1) determined that the awardee's bid was technically equal to its bid; and (2) conducted an cost realism evaluation. GAO held that: (1) NIH reasonably determined that the bids were technically equivalent; and (2) the cost realism evaluation was proper. Accordingly, the protest was denied.