Raytheon’s Protest Loss Shows Caution Needed With Revolving Door

BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc. can perform a contract to develop a dual band decoy for the US Navy because there were “some very troubling facts” that protester Raytheon Co. “fails to overcome,” a federal judge said.

Raytheon sought cancellation of the contract, alleging that it was unfairly excluded from the competition following the Navy’s determination that the employment of a former Navy test engineer created the appearance of a conflict of interest.

But a government agency has broad discretion when acting to protect the integrity of a procurement, and the Navy contracting officer here reasonably recognized ...