A firm protested any Federal Prison Industries contract award for terry cloth towel blanks, contending that the: (1) specifications were unduly restrictive; and (2) unavailability of the contracting officer prevented it from filing its protest before bid opening. GAO held that the protester untimely filed the protest, since: (1) it concerned alleged solicitation improprieties that were apparent pr...

PROCUREMENT - Bid Protests - GAO procedures - Protest timeliness - Apparent solicitation improprieties DIGEST: Protest that specifications in an invitation for bids are unduly restrictive is untimely where the protest was filed after bid opening. Protester's alleged reliance on oral advice from procuring agency personnel that bid taking exception to IFB requirements will not be rejected as nonresp...