A firm protested the Veterans Administration's (VA) rejection of its late bid, contending that it sent its bid by United States Postal Service express mail with delivery guaranteed on the required date. GAO held that VA properly rejected the protester's bid as late since: (1) it received the bid 1 day after bid opening; and (2) the protester failed to show that VA mishandled the bid. Accordingly,...

PROCUREMENT - COMPETITIVE NEGOTIATION - HAND-CARRIED OFFERS - LATE SUBMISSION - ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA - ACCEPTANCE DIGEST: OFFER DELIVERED BY UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE EXPRESS MAIL THE DAY AFTER IT WAS DUE PROPERLY WAS REJECTED. SINCE A LATE HAND-CARRIED OFFER CAN BE CONSIDERED ONLY IF MISHANDLING BY THE PROCURING AGENCY WAS THE PARAMOUNT CAUSE OF THE LATE RECEIPT. THAT THE OFFER WAS NOT DELIVERE...