Protest to Bidder Responsibility and Responsiveness in Two-Step Procurement

A protester to a contract award solicited under a two-step procurement claimed that the awardee was not responsible nor responsive. The protest relating to issues of responsiveness raised at the time of step one of the procurement was untimely since it was filed after award of the second step. There was no basis to question the acceptability of a proposal which did not take exception to a safety requirement, and GAO does not review affirmative determinations of responsibility unless there are allegations of fraud or failure to meet criteria.