[Protest of DLA Rejection of Telegraphic Bid for Plastic Identification Badges]
Highlights
A firm protested the Defense Logistics Agency's (DLA) rejection of its telegraphic bid for plastic identification badges, contending that: (1) certain solicitation provisions implied that telegraphic bids were permissible; and (2) DLA should not have accepted bids from several offerers because they were not small businesses. DLA argued that: (1) it advised the protester that the solicitation did not permit it to consider telegraphic bids; (2) it received offers from two lower-priced, qualified bidders; and (3) even if it considered the protester's telegraphic bid, the protester would be third-low bidder and not in line for award. GAO held that: (1) DLA properly rejected the protester's bid, since the solicitation did not authorize acceptance of telegraphic bids; (2) the protester was not an interested party, since it would not be in line for award even if GAO sustained its protest; and (3) the protester untimely filed its protest concerning the other bidders' size status more than 10 days after it knew the basis for protest. Accordingly, the protest was dismissed.