Losing a Limo Contract

It looks like Shirlington Limousine & Transport, which has been under investigation for allegedly providing prostitutes to public officials through a bribery ring, will no longer be providing services for the Homeland Security Department. The company had lodged a protest with the Government Accountability Office when it lost its bid to renew the DHS transportation services contract. Among other objections, Shirlington argued the contract should have been issued as a set-aside for a business located in a historically disadvantaged area, as it had been set up previously. GAO ruled that DHS's decision to instead use a small business set-aside clause was appropriate in this case, since it was unclear that more than one qualified company would bid for the location-based preference. That company, of course, was Shirlington.--Jenny Mandel