GAO takes broad view for protests

The Government Accountability Office said its new authority to hear protests of task and delivery orders spans the entire scope of the orders, according to a decision released Nov. 10.Army officials asserted that contractors could protest an order’s initial solicitation, but they have no right to challenge the rationale for the award of the order.GAO disagreed, arguing that Congress would not require agencies to notify contractors about competition and allow contractors to protest and then leave the contractors with no way to ensure the agencies follow through.