Protest against Competitive Ability To Obtain Raw Materials

A protester alleged that the awardee was not responsive and enjoyed an unfair competitive advantage. Since it was clear from the initial submission that the protest was without legal merit, it was decided without requesting a report from the procuring agency. The bidder's ability to obtain needed raw materials at a low cost did not make its bid nonresponsive. The fact that one firm may be able to bid a lower price than another firm does not preclude the Government from taking advantage of the low bid.