[Protest of Defense General Supply Center Rejection of Bid for Respirator Facepiece Covers]

A firm protested the Defense General Supply Center's (DGSC) rejection of its low bid and contract award for respirator facepiece covers, contending that DGSC improperly relied on National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) safety regulations to rescind the approval of its alternate product, since its product did not affect the equipment's respiratory function. GAO held that DGSC: (1) reasonably determined that it required a NIOSH-certified product; and (2) had no control over NIOSH certification approval requirements. Accordingly, the protest was denied.