Protest Regarding Solicitation Provision for Evaluation of Prompt Payment Discounts

A company protested the award of a contract, alleging that the 20-day prompt payment discount offered by the successful bidder was not for evaluation under the terms of the invitation for bids. Since the solicitation included both the standard discount provision permitting evaluation of 20-day discounts and an additional provision which could be read as precluding evaluation of 20-day discounts, such discount was properly evaluated. In light of the applicable procurement regulations, the solicitation as a whole could not reasonably be interpreted as precluding evaluation of a 20-day discount, and it did not appear that the protester was prejudiced by the inclusion of the additional provision in the solicitation.