[Request for Reconsideration of Protest of VA Contract Award]

A firm requested reconsideration of its dismissed protest of a Department of Veterans Affairs contract award. GAO had held that the protester untimely filed its protest after it knew of initial adverse action on its agency-level protest. In its request for reconsideration, the protester contended that: (1) it did not read the facsimile denial of its agency-level protest until 3 days after receipt; (2) the facsimile was unclear and did not constitute official notification; and (3) it waited for an official copy of the denial before filing a protest with GAO. GAO held that: (1) the facsimile did constitute official notice of adverse agency action on the protest; (2) written notification was not required; and (3) the protester untimely filed its protest. Accordingly, the original decision was affirmed.