GAO rejects protests of patrol cutter awards

JUNE 5, 2014 — The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) on June 2, 2014, issued a bid protest decision that upheld the U.S. Coast Guard’s award of three firm fixed-price contracts for preliminary and contract design (P&CD) for the Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) acquisition project. Contracts were awarded to Bollinger Shipyards Lockport LLC, Eastern Shipbuilding Group Inc., and General Dynamics, Bath Iron Works.

Shipbuilders Huntington Ingalls Industries and VT Halter Marine both filed with the GAO protesting the awards and all P&CD contract work was stopped, as required by GAO’s automatic stay, during GAO’s review of the protests.

Following GAO’s dismissal of the protests, the Coast Guard ordered the three contractors to commence P&CD contract work June 3.

The GAO decision was issued under a Protective Order executed in connection with the protests and the details of the decision are currently not public. A redacted version of the decision is expected to be published in the future by GAO.