Overstock backs away from commercial marketplace protest
By
Nick Wakeman
Overstock.com has withdrawn its protest that claimed the General Services Administration is restricting competition for the commercial marketplace portal it wants to launch.
The General Services Administration looks like it is back on track in acquiring a new e-commerce portal now that one bidder has withdrawn its protest.
Overstock.com had filed a protest to raise objections over changes to the solicitation. The company argued those changes were too restrictive because they shortened the timeframe for the procurement.
But Overstock withdrew after they read GSA’s response to the protest. To make a poker analogy: Overstock placed a bet, GSA raised it, and then Overstock folded.
Overstock’s attorney did not respond to a request for comment.
GSA adjusted its solicitation on Jan. 8 and gave bidders until Jan. 15 to revise their proposals and it was that quick turnaround that Overstock objected to. That tight deadline restricts competition, Overstock's argument went.
The e-commerce project is GSA’s attempt to field an online marketplace for agencies to buy commercial products priced below $10,000 at the start. The limit could eventually be $250,000.
Deltek data indicates an award could come as soon as next month.