[Protest of Proposed Navy Contract Award for Mess Attendant Services]

A firm protested a proposed Navy contract award for mess attendant services, contending that, since neither the low bidder nor the second low bidder submitted the required documents, they were both nonresponsive. GAO noted that: (1) the low bidder had withdrawn its bid; (2) the Navy had erroneously reported that the second low bidder did not submit a required amendment; and (3) the protester contended that there was collusive bidding, since the two low bidders had submitted the same documents. GAO found that: (1) the low bidder's alleged nonresponsiveness was academic since it withdrew its bid; and (2) there was no evidence that the second low bidder did not submit all of the required documentation or that the Navy had included the wrong documents as part of the proposed awardee's bid. Accordingly, the protest was denied.