A firm protested the Forest Service's rejection of its low bid as nonresponsive for trail construction, contending that it did not have to include a bid guarantee since its bid was under $25,000. GAO held that the Forest Service unreasonably rejected the bid. Accordingly, the protest was sustained, and GAO recommended that the Forest Service: (1) make award to the protester; and (2) reimburse the...

The protester argues that its bid was improperly rejected for failure to submit a bid guarantee. Stated that "an offer guarantee [x] is. [] is not required.". Since clause L-11 stated that bid guarantees were required for bids exceeding $25. 000 and since the protester's bid was less than $25. The contracting officer basically relied on the IFB's order of precedence clause which provided that inco...