Ruling throws NOAA fleet's move to Oregon into doubt

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's research fleet may not be shipping out of Washington after all.

A federal oversight agency today upheld a protest by the Port of Bellingham, which argued that NOAA had violated its own guidelines by selecting Newport, Ore., as its new homeport.

Today's ruling said NOAA did not properly take into account the fact that a portion of the Newport site is in a flood plain.

"The ground rules have not been followed," said Michael Golden, associate general counsel in charge of bid protests at the Government Accountability Office. NOAA's solicitation for bids said the fleet homeport should not be located in a flood plain, unless there is no alternative, Golden said.

GAO recommended that NOAA follow the ground rules and determine whether a "practicable alternative to Newport's offer" exists.

Bellingham has argued that it offers such an alternative.

The other suitors for the 20-year lease included Port Angeles and the site on Seattle's Lake Union where the fleet has been headquartered for more than 40 years.

The General Accountability Office earlier dismissed an appeal from the Lake Union property owners.

"We're still trying to figure out what it means," said Capt. Michele Bullock, commanding officer for NOAA's Pacific fleet.

NOAA has 60 days to respond to GAO's recommendation, Golden said. In "99 percent" of cases, agencies follow GAO's recommendations, he added. But it's not required that they do so.

Four NOAA research vessels are based at the homeport, which also serves another six vessels that operate out of Alaska, California and Hawaii.

Sandi Doughton: 206-464-2491 or sdoughton@seattletimes.com