FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                            RELEASE NO.  23-07

USMA BOARD OF VISITORS– July 5, 2007          

        WEST POINT, N.Y. – The Government Accountability Office has officially set the wheels back in motion for West Point’s Residential Communities Initiative that was awarded on March 8, 2007, by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to GMH/Centex Military Communities, LLC, for the Army RCI family housing here. 
                A disappointed offeror, Forest City Military Communities, LLC, filed a procurement bid protest March 26 with the GAO. 
As required by statute, the contracting officer immediately advised GMH to stop work. Forest City alleged that the government improperly evaluated its proposal in response to the West Point solicitation. The response by the Corps of Engineers described the evaluation process and addressed each of Forest City’s allegations.
                On June 29, the GAO issued its decision finding that Forest City’s assertions were without merit. Following the release of the decision, Monday, the contracting officer advised GMH to resume work.
                “We do not have a revised schedule and will not until GMH mobilizes on site,” said West Point RCI Project Manager Mike Colacicco. “GMH leadership spoke with me Monday. They will be here as soon as they can. It is my desire to recapture as much of the lost time as possible without jeopardizing the quality of the product -- the Community Development and Management Plan.”
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