The Government Accountability Office has rejected a protest of Lockheed Martin Corp.’s (NYSE: LMT) win of a potential $2 billion contract with the National Science Foundation, Washington Technology reports.
NSF awarded the contract in late December last year to support infrastructure for the U.S. Antarctic Program, a research program based at the South Pole.
GAO reviewed the contract after a January protest argued against Lockheed’s technical proposal and found fault with other evaluation ratings and NSF’s discussions with Lockheed prior to awarding the contract.
The protest also cited Lockheed’s proposal’s price tag as reason to renew the contract process.
Auditors determined that NSF only asked for a clarification from Lockheed and GAO did not count that exchange as a communication.
On the award, Lockheed will operate and maintain work stations, medical facilities and research vessels and provide transportation services to scientists and staff stationed in Antartica.
