Siemens Drug Test Contract for U.S. Court Office Not Contestable

Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc. will perform a $10 million drug testing services contract for the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts despite a rival’s protest because the U.S. Court of Federal Claims lacks jurisdiction over challenges to awards by that judicial branch entity.

The AOUSC isn’t a federal agency as defined by statute, and therefore the Tucker Act precludes the court from reviewing Microgenics Corp.'s protest of the award, Judge Charles F. Lettow said in a Tuesday opinion.

Microgenics failed to show that the AOUSC’s status as an “independent establishment” under the statute allows the the court to hear ...