A company protested the award of a contract under a brand name or equal invitation for bids (IFB) issued by the Army for magnetic tape bulk degaussing devices and data. The protester contended that the awardee's bid was nonresponsive to the IFB because it offered a model that was neither a listed brand name nor an equal product which met the specified salient characteristics. The protester asserte...

THE EXTENT THE PROTESTER IMPLIES THAT THE SOLICITATION SHOULD HAVE INCLUDED THESE REQUIREMENTS. THE PROTEST IS UNTIMELY BECAUSE IT WAS NOT FILED BEFORE BID OPENING. 2. PROTEST ALLEGING THAT THE AWARDEE'S BID OF AN "EQUAL" PRODUCT ON A BRAND NAME OR EQUAL PROCUREMENT IS NONRESPONSIVE BECAUSE THE BIDDER'S DESCRIPTIVE MATERIAL. IS INADEQUATE TO JUSTIFY THE CONTRACTING AGENCY'S DETERMINATION THAT THE...