[Protest of Contract Award Under Navy IFB]

A firm protested a Navy contract award contending that, since its low, responsive bid was timely filed, it should have been awarded the contract. The protester also claimed bid preparation costs and anticipated profits. After the protester inquired as to the status of the solicitation, more than 2 months after bid opening, the Navy conducted an investigation and determined that the protester's bid had been received in a timely fashion, but due to misfiling had not been evaluated. Since bids are opened publicly, the protester was put on notice at bid opening that its bid had not been presented for evaluation, and it should have inquired prior to award as to the status of its bid to enable the Navy to take corrective action. GAO held that, the protester's inaction prior to award precluded the Navy from being able to take corrective action; accordingly, the protest and the claim were denied.