[Protest of Park Service Award of Permit]

A concessioner protested the National Park Service's award to another concessioner of a permit to provide food and beverage service in a park. GAO did not find a basis for considering the protest because the award of the permit did not involve the direct expenditure of appropriated funds nor did it provide a direct benefit to the Government. In addition, GAO held that it would not review the protest because the only income the Government received from the permit was from a nominal franchise fee. This fee appeared to be for the cost of processing and administering the competition for the permit and of the permit itself rather than for renting Government property. Accordingly, the protest was dismissed.