Coast Guard's Sentinel-Class Patrol Boat Contract Upheld by GAO.

Guest post by RADM Gary Blore (CG-9), Assistant Commandant for Acquisition.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) yesterday issued a bid protest decision that upheld the U.S. Coast Guards award of the Sentinel-class Patrol Boat to Bollinger Shipyards, Inc.

GAO provides a forum for bidders and offerors seeking federal government contracts who believe that "a contract has been, or is about to be, awarded improperly or illegally or that they have been unfairly denied a contract or an opportunity to compete for a contract".

We are of course very pleased with GAO's decision. The Coast Guard had been confident, especially given the acquisition reforms our agency has put in place and with the rigor and discipline followed throughout the process for this patrol boat contract award, that GAO would ultimately uphold the Coast Guard?s decision. I appreciate the role that GAO plays in maintaining the transparency and equity of the federal procurement process and now that GAO has issued its decision, we can proceed with this critically important Coast Guard acquisition program.

With the release of this decision, the Coast Guard and Bollinger will resume working together on this project. The 153-foot Sentinel-class patrol boat will replace the 110-foot Island-class patrol boats, which have reached the end of their 20-year service lives.

Please note: The GAO decision was issued under the Protective Order GAO issued in connection with the case, so the decision cannot be made public. The Coast Guard anticipates that a redacted version of the decision will be published by GAO.

Watch the original Award announcement