[Protest of VA Decision Not To Allow Correction of Mistakes in Apparent Low Bid]

A firm protested the Veterans Administration's (VA) refusal to allow it to correct two mistakes in its apparent low bid. GAO initially noted that VA should have allowed the bid correction, since the bid and the protester's worksheets clearly indicated the intended bid price and the correction would not have displaced any other bidder. However, GAO held that the VA refusal was proper because the cost of work omitted from the bid price was prepared after bid opening and the correction would have calculated factors not originally considered. The protester requested that it be awarded the contract regardless of the mistakes. GAO has allowed award in such cases if the bidder waives its right to correct the mistakes and if the bid would remain low. GAO held that, since the protester did not request the waiver, its bid was not considered. Accordingly, the protest was denied.