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TSA Snared in GAO Protest Jurisdiction

Client Alert | less than 1 min read | 03.19.10

In General Dynamics One Source, LLC, GAO rejected TSA's jurisdictional challenge, holding that Congress revoked TSA's exemption from GAO protests effective June 22, 2008, and that TSA's Phase II solicitation issued in December 2008 could not relate back to the exemption that previously existed for the Phase I competition. On the merits, GAO sustained the protests due to TSA's failure to evaluate price realism when (1) the awardee proposed mismatched staffing approaches in the technical and cost proposals, and (2) the awardee's proposed staffing depended upon hiring incumbent staff at rates well below current incumbent salaries.

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Client Alert | 2 min read | 12.29.25

FYI – GAO Finds Key Person “Available” Despite Accepting Employment with a Different Company

GAO’s key personnel rule is well-known—and often a source of frustration— amongst government contractors.  Proposed key personnel who become “unavailable” prior to contract award—especially where they have accepted employment with a different company—may doom an offeror’s proposal by rendering it noncompliant with solicitation requirements.  But GAO’s recent decision in FYI – For Your Information, Inc., B-423774, B-423774.2 (Dec. 19, 2025) provides some potential relief from that rule. ...