GAO Denies Bid Protest: Lessons from B.L. Harbert’s Challenge to a State Department Contract

On January 15, 2025, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a decision regarding a bid protest filed by B.L. Harbert International, LLC, a construction firm based in Birmingham, Alabama. The protest challenged the Department of State’s award of a contract to Caddell Construction Co. (DE), LLC, from Montgomery, Alabama, for the design and construction of a new consulate compound in Adana, Turkey. B.L. Harbert contended that the agency’s evaluation of its proposal and the subsequent best-value tradeoff decision were unreasonable and inconsistent with the solicitation’s terms. After thorough review, the GAO denied the protest, affirming the Department of State’s contract award decision. citeturn0search0

This decision underscores the importance of agencies adhering to established evaluation criteria during the procurement process and reinforces the GAO’s role in ensuring that such evaluations are conducted fairly and in accordance with the solicitation’s stipulations. For contractors, this case highlights the necessity of aligning proposals closely with solicitation requirements to enhance competitiveness in federal procurement opportunities.