[Protest of DPSC Rejection of Bid as Nonresponsive]

A firm protested the Defense Personnel Supply Center's (DPSC) rejection of its bid for flyer helmets and bags as nonresponsive, contending that DPSC: (1) did not allow it adequate time to respond to a solicitation amendment; and (2) should have awarded it the contract, since its bid was low. GAO held that: (1) DPSC properly rejected the protester's bid, since it did not acknowledge receipt of the amendment; (2) the protester did not show that DPSC deliberately excluded it from competition; and (3) acceptance of the protester's nonresponsive bid because of monetary savings to the federal government would have compromised the integrity of the sealed bidding system. Accordingly, the protest was denied.