[Protest of USDA Bid Rejection]

A firm protested the Department of Agriculture's (USDA) rejection of its bid, contending that USDA orally advised it to transmit its bid via facsimile. GAO held that USDA properly rejected the protester's bid, since the: (1) solicitation stated that facsimile bids would not be accepted; and (2) protester could not rely on oral advice that was inconsistent with the solicitation. Accordingly, the protest was dismissed.