[Protest of DPSC Rejection of Bid for Flameless Heaters]

A firm protested the Defense Personnel Support Center's (DPSC) rejection of its bid for flameless heaters, contending that DPSC unreasonably: (1) accepted other offerers' delivery schedules without verifying their ability to perform in accordance with their bids; and (2) eliminated it from the competitive range before requesting best and final offers. GAO held that: (1) DPSC reasonably excluded the protester's bid from the competitive range, since the other bidders proposed shorter delivery schedules and lower prices; and (2) the bidders' ability to meet their delivery schedules is a matter of responsibility, which it would not consider. Accordingly, the protest was denied in part and dismissed in part.