[Request for Advance Decision Concerning VA Rejection of Late Bid]
Highlights
The Veterans Administration (VA) requested an advance decision concerning a firm's protest of a VA determination that its bid was late and the rejection of that bid. The protester argued that, since VA improperly returned the unopened bid before bid opening, the bid should be considered for award. GAO noted that, although the protester's bid was late, the contracting agency's policy not to accept mail on weekends prevented the bid from otherwise being received before bid opening. Further, regulations prohibit returning an unopened late bid before the opening date. Accordingly, since the bid was late due to Government mishandling and it had not been altered, the bid should be opened and considered for award.