Protest of Government Surplus Item Award

An individual protested the award of a Government surplus item to any other bidder under an invitation for bids issued by the Defense Logistics Agency. Rejection of the bid involved the protester's use of the qualifying wording "all or none by invitation." The protester claimed that the improper wording was the fault of the agency because of erroneous instructions she was given in response to a telephone inquiry. As the Government is not responsible for erroneous actions of its employees even if committed in the performance of official duties, the protester was responsible for the ambiguous wording of the bid. The protest was summarily denied.