Protest of Provisions in IFB

A company protested issuance of an invitation for bids (IFB) by the Department of the Army for custodial services, contending that the specifications were unclear as to how the unit price for a certain service was to be entered; and that the contracting officer failed to advise the protester that the IFB would not be amended and that bids would be opened as scheduled, notwithstanding the protest filed with GAO. The protester did not show that it was prejudiced by the alleged ambiguity in the specifications. Absent advice from the contracting agency to the contrary, bidders must assume that bids will be opened as scheduled in the IFB. The agency's failure to notify the protester of the intent to award the contract prior to resolution of the GAO protest did not affect the legality of the award. The protest was denied.