GAO Backs NASA’s Award to Ball for Weather Prediction Program

NASA acted properly when awarding Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. a $553.9 million contract for its satellite program because the agency adequately considered how Ball’s acquisition could affect proposal costs, the GAO said.

L3Harris Technologies Inc. protested NASA’s decision, saying the agency had irrationally awarded its contract to Ball because NASA hadn’t properly assessed the cost impact of BAE Systems plc acquiring the awardee. But the GAO found no basis for why the contracting officer should have upwardly adjusted Ball’s proposed costs after the acquisition was announced in August.

“Other than its expectation that Ball’s rates will be higher, the ...