[Protest of Rejection of Bid as Nonresponsive]

A firm protested the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's rejection of its bid for the maintenance and repair of air conditioning, air handling, ventilation, and induction units. The agency rejected the bid as nonresponsive because it offered only a 30-day acceptance period rather than the 60-day period required by the solicitation. The protester contended that the insertion of the incorrect acceptance period was the result of a clerical mistake which it should have been allowed to correct. However, GAO has held that an invitation requires that a bid remain available for acceptance by the Government for a prescribed period, and the bidder's failure to meet this requirement renders the bid nonresponsive. Accordingly, the protest was denied.