Opinion ID: 2640804
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Hearing Officer Correctly Applied AS 36.30.585(b).

Text: Bachner and Bowers argue that Hearing Officer Hemenway misapplied AS 36.30.585(b) when he did not give extra weight to the factor that addresses harm to the integrity of the procurement system. They are incorrect. Alaska Statute 36.30.585(b) grants the hearing officer a substantial amount of discretion to determine how to remedy a documented impropriety in the procurement process. Where a protest is sustained, the procurement official is instructed to implement an appropriate remedy after considering the six specified factors. [8] The statute itself does not require that any one factor be given greater weight than others and, contrary to Bachner and Bowers's assertions, case law does not hold otherwise. Previous procurement cases stress the need to ensure an even playing field for all bidders during the bidding process, [9] but this emphasis does not require that any factor in AS 36.30.585(b) be given more weight than others when determining an appropriate remedy. By carefully considering each statutory factor without giving determinative weight to any single one, Hearing Officer Hemenway correctly applied AS 36.30.585(b).