[Protest of Rejection of Bid Under Forest Service Solicitation for Construction Work]

A firm protested the Forest Service's rejection of its bid under a solicitation for construction work, contending that: (1) its failure to cite an acceptance period that conformed with the solicitation requirements was a minor irregularity which should be waived as immaterial; and (2) the Forest Service had previously awarded it a contract under the same circumstances. GAO held that: (1) the Forest Service was required to reject the bid because it offered less than the mandatory bid acceptance period; (2) an improper award made in a prior procurement does not justify repetition of the impropriety; and (3) the protester had failed to state a valid basis for protest. Accordingly, the protest was dismissed.