GAO Upholds Navy Sole-Source Award to Preserve Defense Industrial Base Capacity

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently upheld the Department of the Navy's decision to award a sole-source contract to preserve a second qualified manufacturer of critical submarine equipment. In RFD Beaufort, Inc., B-424661, B-424661.2 (Oct. 7, 2026), GAO denied a protest challenging the Navy's award of a contract for submarine escape and surface survival personnel equipment (SESSPE) suits to Mustang Survival Manufacturing, Inc. (Mustang), rather than conducting a full and open competition.