B-183486: Jun 19, 1975

CONTRACTS - SPECIFICATIONS - DEFECTIVE - CANCELLATION OF INVITATION INVITATION FOR EMERGENCY STANDBY POWER SYSTEMS CONTAINED SPECIFICATION CONCERNED WITH HORSEPOWER RATING OF ENGINE NEEDED TO DRIVE GENERATOR WHICH WAS SUBJECT TO CONFLICTING REASONABLE INTERPRETATIONS. THE SUBJECT IFB WAS ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. 1975 OPENING DATE 12 BIDS WERE RECEIVED AND OPENED. ESSEX WAS LOW W...

B-183486: Jun 19, 1975

The low bidder protested the rejection of its bid as nonresponsive and, after the agency reaffirmed the determination of nonresponsiveness, the third low bidder protested rejection of its bid. The solicitation was subject to conflicting reasonable interpretations and so inadequately expressed the agency's needs that it ensnared bidders into submitting nonresponsive bids. As a result, the solicitat...