Protest of Agency Finding That Bid Was Technically Unacceptable and Nonresponsive

A company protested the rejection of its bid as technically unacceptable and nonresponsive under an invitation for bids issued by the Forest Service for photogrammetric instruments and related equipment. Where the equipment offered met the technical specifications as written, the bid was improperly rejected. If the solicitation did not adequately reflect the agency's requirements, award should not have been made; the agency should have canceled the original solicitation, clarified its specifications, and resolicited. Remedial action was precluded because the contract had been performed shortly after award; however, the Secretary of Agriculture was advised of the GAO recommendation that the Forest Service take appropriate steps to prevent recurrence of the deficiency.