The Government Accountability Office has formally dismissed a bid protest brought last month by incumbent Centerra over the Department of Energy’s $1-billion security contract award to a rival at the Savannah River Site in South Carolina — but that might not be the end of the dispute.
In a notice dated Aug. 9, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) dismissed the July 9 challenge Centerra brought over a potential 10-year, $1-billion contract awarded in February to a Securitas CIS-led joint venture.
A source familiar with the situation, however, said the Centerra protest was basically moot because DOE has agreed to take “corrective action” and re-evaluate its procurement decision.
A Centerra spokesman Monday declined comment, directing press inquiries to DOE. A DOE spokesperson merely said in an email that the agency does not comment on ongoing procurements.
An earlier protest was filed with GAO by SOC, a Day & Zimmermann security company. SOC withdrew its bid protest July 12, according to another GAO notice. In May DOE said it was picking up another four-month option with Centerra, which is now scheduled to stay on the job through Oct. 7.
The contract calls for providing security guards, paramilitary services and generally protecting people, facilities, information and special nuclear material at the federal complex next to the Georgia state line.
