Plunder Scenario 54
Your District purchases studio pianos for schools annually. There are 2 basic brands districtwide and each are from different suppliers. One brand is particular problematic and requires more repairs. You issue the bid specifying the other brand. The supplier bids and is declared nonresponsive because his product does not conform to the specs of the brand named in the spec. He protests. What should be the decision of the CPO?
AP Response:
The individual reviewing the protest was unfamiliar with the process and ultimately ruled in favor of the protester, likely out of hesitation. Moving forward, whenever we specify a brand name, we ensure that salient characteristics are clearly listed, providing a precise basis for evaluation.