Sole-Source Protest Win Nets Only Protest Costs
Client Alert | less than 1 min read | 12.08.05
In Europe Displays, Inc. (Dec. 5, 2005, http://www.gao.gov/decisions/bidpro/297099.pdf), GAO sustained a protest challenging a sole-source award under Simplified Acquisition Procedures because the agency’s justification was not objectively reasonable based on the information reasonably available to the agency, regardless of whether the agency had acted in good faith. However, because the contract had been fully performed by the time of the GAO decision, GAO awarded the protester only its protest costs, reasoning that the cost of responding to a FedBizOpps announcement of a proposed sole-source award, including preparation of a capability statement, is not a “proposal” cost for which GAO can recommend reimbursement.
Insights
Client Alert | 3 min read | 07.23.26
It is well established that “[c]ompetitive prejudice is an essential element of every viable protest.” Yet, for decades, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has tempered this requirement with two critical corollaries: protesters need only demonstrate a “reasonable possibility” that they were prejudiced by an agency’s actions, and GAO “will resolve doubts regarding prejudice in favor of the protester.” These principles have been consistent features of GAO’s bid protest jurisprudence for more than 30 years. See, e.g., United Int’l Eng'g, Inc., B-245448, Jan. 29, 1992, 71 CPD ¶ 177.
Client Alert | 3 min read | 07.23.26
Second Circuit Affirms Preliminary Injunction Against Nielsen in Constructive Tying Case
Client Alert | 4 min read | 07.22.26
Client Alert | 4 min read | 07.22.26
Ghost Advertising: Compliance Takeaways From the Gymshark Influencer Class Action
