Both Unisys and Northrop Grumman's protests have been answered. TSA has reopened the ITIP competition, allowing both companies to compete for the $2 billion contract. As discussed in a recent INPUT blog, protests were filed with GAO and the FAA Office of Dispute Resolution for Acquisition in July 2008 after both companies were left off the down select list of final bidders.

This is great news for Unisys, the incumbent for the ITIP program, and Northrop Grumman, but it brings up some good questions. As we all know, both companies filed protests only after being passed over during selection for the down select list of final bidders. Less than a month later, they were allowed to compete. This is the first task order protest under GAO jurisdiction since the change in rules which allows protests for task orders greater than $10 million. It is also the first time GAO heard protests of TSA procurements since TSA was recently made subject to the FAR. I wonder if TSA is setting a precedent...

Can vendors expect to just submit a protest and get back into competition?

What is going to happen once this contract is awarded?

Is it safe to assume that additional protests will be filed and, if so, what does TSA plan to do at that point?

Is this another example of vendors positioning Protests as part of their capture strategies?

The award is anticipated by the end of the year, so all we can do is wait and see who the victorious vendor is and the effect of that award determination on post-award protests.