Claim for Damage to Bid Sample

The protester alleged that its submitted bid sample was damaged by the Government, causing it to fail the required testing. The agency handled the sample in accordance with established procedures designed to adequately protect samples and denies knowledge of how or when the damage was incurred. Since the record does not otherwise affirmatively establish that the damage was the fault of the agency, the protest was denied. The agency's failure to advise the bidder of test results prior to the award was consistent with applicable regulations.