Bid Which Did Not Include Bid Bond Was Properly Rejected

The protester asserted that a bid bond was submitted with its bid, but the Forest Service contended that no bid bond was found with the bid at bid opening. Employees of the bidder signed affidavits that they witnessed the placing of the bid bond in the bid envelope. Forest Service employees, however, have submitted statements that no bid bond was in the bid envelope. GAO maintained that the Forest Service properly rejected the protester's bid as nonresponsive since the furnishing of a bid bond was a material requirement that cannot be waived. In the absence of independent evidence to establish the validity of the bidder's assertion, the bid may not be considered responsive.