Bid Not Accompanied by Requested Bid Guarantee Is Nonresponsive

A firm protested the rejection of its bid. The protester failed to submit a bid guarantee prior to bid opening as required by the invitation for bids (IFB). The firm alleged that it did not submit a bid guarantee with its bid because an agency employee erroneously told the protester during a telephone conversation that the firm would have 60 days after bid opening in which to submit a bid guarantee. The protester's bid was rendered nonresponsive since the IFB required a bid guarantee and stated that oral explanations were not binding. The protest was without legal merit and was denied.