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Protest Sustained Because Agency Unreasonably Evaluated Weaknesses In Protester's Proposal

Client Alert | less than 1 min read | 09.19.06

In Intercon Assocs., Inc. (Aug. 10, 2006, http://www.gao.gov/decisions/bidpro/298282.pdf), the GAO held that the GSA acted unreasonably and without adequate support in evaluating several weaknesses in the protester's proposal, tainting the agency's source selection decision. The GAO found that five out of the six weaknesses identified by GSA were unreasonable, either because the agency's evaluation was "factually incorrect" (e.g., GSA erroneously identified technical disadvantages in proposed software), "internally contradictory" (e.g., GSA downgraded proposal for certain technical features on which agency also commented favorably), "cryptic" (e.g., GSA criticized a software function for "look[ing] weird"), or otherwise "unreasonable" (e.g., GSA downgraded proposed software for having a limitation that was present in all offerors' products).

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Client Alert | 3 min read | 06.22.26

Timing Is Everything: GAO Dismisses Three Protests Filed Before the Solicitation Deadline but After GAO’s Daily Cutoff Time

A recent U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) decision dismissing three pre-award protests as untimely highlights an important procedural trap for would-be protesters. In Oready, LLC, GAO dismissed three protests filed one business day too late, even though they were submitted prior to the solicitation closing date and time. ...