Protest against Rejection of Bid as Nonresponsive in Two-Step Procurement

Two companies protested an award to any other bidder in the second step of a two-step procurement. Although one of the protesters was the low bidder in step 2, its bid was rejected as nonresponsive because it did not include bid prices for optional services. Since the price for the items bid established a clear pattern of uniform pricing and the protester had submitted a responsive bid in step 1, the protest by the first protester was sustained. It was not necessary to consider the second protester's arguments; that protest was denied.