[Protest of Navy Rejection of Bid for Painting of Family Housing Units]

A firm protested the Navy's rejection of its low bid for painting family housing units as nonresponsive due to a defective bid bond. The Navy argued that the protest was untimely. The protester contended that: (1) the fact that the bank addressed the letter of credit to it was a minor informality; and (2) the bank clearly issued the letter, a photocopy, as a bid guarantee. GAO held that: (1) the protester timely filed its protest; and (2) the Navy properly rejected the protester's bid because the letter of credit was a photocopy, was improperly addressed, and did not specifically state the terms upon which the Navy could make a demand on the issuing bank. Accordingly, the protest was denied.