ABSTRACT
Government agencies rejecting entirely acceptable contractor proposals, failing to follow rules mandating preferences for companies meeting prerequisites for socioeconomic contracting programs, and awarding set-aside contracts to firms not meeting socioeconomic contracting prerequisites comprise numerous reasons that the GAO sustains protests. Failing to conduct mandatory negotiations and holding improper or misleading contract negotiations, including discriminatory provisions in solicitations, disregarding conflicts of interests, and improperly awarding contracts are serious transgressions that are also included in the body of sustained protests. Such violations of federal acquisition rules devastate contractors that are damaged by these unscrupulous or inept actions by government contract managers and other government officials involved in the selection of contractors. A discourse on sustained protests based on the above transgressions is included in this chapter.
