[Protest of Air Force Contract Award Contending Awardee Did Not Submit the Low Bid]

A firm protested a contract award to another firm under an Air Force solicitation for oxygen mask valves, contending that: (1) the awardee's bid was nonresponsive because it failed to acknowledge a solicitation amendment; (2) it, rather than the awardee, submitted the low bid; and (3) the Air Force erred in adding transportation costs to its bid during evaluation. The protester also claimed reimbursement of bid preparation costs. GAO held that: (1) the amendment was not material, and the awardee's failure to acknowledge it was properly waived as a minor informality; (2) the protester failed to include guaranteed shipping weights and dimensions in its bid, and the Air Force adhered to the terms of the solicitation in determining shipping information for evaluation purposes; (3) since the Air Force properly added transportation costs to the protester's bid, the awardee's bid was low; and (4) in view of the failure of the protest, the claim for bid preparation costs could not be allowed. Accordingly, the protest and claim were denied.