[Protest of Forest Service Contract Award]

A firm protested a contract award under the Forest Service's invitation for bids for the modification of a water system. The protester, competing as part of a joint venture, asserted that, although it was the apparent low bidder, the award went to the second-low bidder because of a deficiency in a surety bond accompanying the protester's bid. The protester contended that it was not given an opportunity to correct the problem. GAO found that the bid was properly rejected as nonresponsive and could not be corrected because the submission of a proper bid bond is a material requirement, deficiencies in which may not be corrected after bid opening. Accordingly, the protest was denied.