Protest Based on Evaluation of Transportation Costs

A protester contended that it would have been the low bidder if transportation costs had been properly evaluated. The protest was denied because: the agency was not limited to evaluation of commercial transportation costs where military transport was more economical; the contracting officer was not responsible for possessing information about the availability of lower costs since the information was not provided by the bidder, it was within the bidder's control, and it was not extrinsically verifiable; and it was permissible for bidders to use guaranteed shipping dimensions which were less than actual dimensions as an alternative to reducing prices.