[Protest Against Air Force Procurement of Repair Services]

A firm protested an Air Force determination to allow the low bidder under a solicitation for repair services to correct an error in its bid, contending that the error rendered the bid nonresponsive and, as the second low bidder, it should be awarded the contract. After bid opening, the low bidder had informed the Air Force that its bid included an incorrect cost and, supported with worksheets and adding machine tapes, requested that it be allowed to correct its bid. The Air Force allowed the correction since the bid was in total conformance with the specifications. GAO has held that: (1) where the record establishes that the bidder bid on the terms of the solicitation, such bids are subject to correction under procurement procedures and are not considered nonresponsive; (2) a bidder may obtain correction of a mistake in its bid alleged prior to award where there exists clear evidence of the mistake and of the intended bid, and where it would not displace any other bidder; and (3) the authority to correct mistakes alleged after bid opening and before award is vested in the procuring agency which it will not disturb unless there is no reasonable basis for the decision. Accordingly, the protest was denied.