Non-incumbent awardees who are defending their awards against a bid protest often view sole-source “bridge” contracts issued to the incumbent as something akin to death and taxes — an unpleasant, yet seemingly inescapable fact of life. 

But a recent Court of Federal Claims (CFC) decision offers an important reminder that these types of contracts are not inviolate.  They can be successfully protested themselves when the need to sole-source arises from a lack of advance planning on the part of the agency.

Global-Dynamics, LLC v. United States, No. 17-1875C, __ Fed. Cl. __, 2018 WL 2016151 (May 1, 2018) has a lengthy procedural history.  The Army issued the solicitation in 2012 seeking registered nursing (RN) services for the San Antonio Military Healthcare System.  Since then, the agency has made award to protester Global-Dynamics three times; disappointed offeror GiaMed (a joint venture of the incumbent MedTrust and another entity) has successfully protested three times; and the Army has awarded MedTrust five sole-source bridge contracts.

Keep reading this article at: https://www.insidegovernmentcontracts.com/2018/05/a-bridge-too-far-court-of-federal-claims-sustains-protest-of-fifth-yes-fifth-sole-source-bridge-contract-awarded-to-incumbent-during-protracted-bid-protest-litigation/