A firm protested an Air Force contract award for vehicle operation and maintenance services, disputing the Air Force's intention to award the contract to the second low bidder. GAO initially noted that the protester had met bid protest timeliness requirements. The protester contended that the awardee submitted a bid that was too low and that it was not aware of the contract requirements. However,...

DIGEST: THE SUBMISSION OF A BELOW COST BID DOES NOT PRECLUDE AWARD TO THAT BIDDER IF THE CONTRACTING OFFICER JUDGES THAT THE BIDDER IS RESPONSIBLE. THAT IS. GAO WILL NOT REVIEW AN AFFIRMATIVE DETERMINATION OF RESPONSIBILITY ABSENT A SHOWING OF POSSIBLE FRAUD BY CONTRACTING OFFICIALS OR THAT THE SOLICITATION CONTAINED A DEFINITIVE RESPONSIBILITY CRITERION THAT WAS MISAPPLIED. UCS WAS THE HIGH BIDDE...