Unisys' protest over being left out of the final bidding for TSA's $1.5 billion Information Technology Infrastructure Program (GovWin Opportunity # 36132) was widely expected. However, it also portends an emerging post-award capture strategy.

Unisys very likely has a solid list of arguments behind their protest. It also is an interesting strategic move since their term as incumbent is scheduled to end on December 31st, 2008. In May, we watched IBM quickly drop their protest over the award of the FBI's Next Generation ID system (GovWin Opportunity # 16535) and join successful bidder Lockheed Martin in doing the work. We are hearing stories of more of such "settled protests," which may mean that protests and negotiations are becoming more common in the capture strategies of Federal contractors and in the expectations and schedules of Federal procurement officials.