[Protest of AID Rejection of Proposal as Technically Unacceptable]

A firm protested the Agency for International Development's (AID) rejection of its bid and subsequent contract award for technical assistance, contending that AID: (1) failed to conduct meaningful discussions; and (2) unreasonably required key personnel to have direct experience. GAO held that the: (1) discussions adequately directed the protester to the areas of its bid requiring further elaboration or explanation; and (2) protester untimely filed its protest regarding the personnel experience requirement. Accordingly, the protest was denied in part and dismissed in part.