[Request for Bid Preparation Costs]

A firm requested bid preparation costs as a remedy for the Veterans Administration's (VA) cancellation of a solicitation after bid opening. The firm contended that the cancellation was arbitrary and capricious and filed a bid preparation costs claim with VA. When the agency did did not respond in a timely fashion, the firm filed a claim with GAO. GAO stated that it will not consider claims for bid preparation costs which are based on issues raised in an untimely manner. To be considered timely, a protest must be filed within 10 working days of the date that the protester was aware of the basis for its protest. The basis for the firm's protest and request for bid preparation costs was known on the date VA canceled the solicitation, but the protest and request were not filed with VA until more than 3 weeks later. Since the claim was not filed in the proper timeframe, it was dismissed.