[Protest of GSA Rejection of Bid as Nonresponsive]

A firm protested the General Services Administration's (GSA) rejection of its low bid for custodial services as nonresponsive because of an inadequate bid guarantee, contending that its letter of credit and promissory note complied with the solicitation's bid guarantee requirements. GAO held that GSA properly rejected the protester's bid as nonresponsive, since its: (1) bid guarantee was materially defective because the protester could not serve as its own principal surety; and (2) promissory note was contingent on GSA acceptance of the bid and did not secure the surety's liability in case of default. Accordingly, the protest was denied.