[Protest of Allegedly Restrictive Specifications in Forest Service Solicitation]

A firm protested a Forest Service contract award, contending that the agency used restrictive specifications in the solicitation. GAO noted that the protester's bid was not rejected because it was nonresponsive, as the protester assumed, but because it was not the low bid. GAO held that, since the protester was not in line for award had its allegation been valid, the protest was academic. Accordingly, the protest was dismissed.