[Protest of NSA Contract Award for Software Support]

A firm protested a National Security Agency (NSA) contract award for software support, contending that NSA: (1) used undisclosed criteria to evaluate its bid; (2) improperly made award to the high bidder; and (3) failed to consider that the awardee violated the procurement integrity provisions of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act. GAO held that: (1) NSA reasonably determined that the protester's bid presented a performance risk; (2) the protester was not prejudiced by NSA improper evaluation of its security clearance status; and (3) NSA properly followed the federal acquisition regulation regarding the possible procurement integrity violation. Accordingly, the protest was denied.