Protest against Finding That Bid Was Nonresponsive Due to Bid Samples

The protesters objected to the award of a requirements contract following rejection of their bids as nonresponsive due to the failure of their bid samples. Rejection of the bids as nonresponsive was proper. However, the award of the contract to a bidder who submitted nonconforming bid samples on the belief that the bidder's production items would conform violates applicable statutory and regulatory requirements. GSA should implement bid sample testing procedures which require rejection of bids as nonresponsive as soon as it is apparent that the bid samples do not comply.