Protest Against Benchmark Test Requirements

One protester objected to the rejection of its proposal as nonresponsive, and a second protester objected to the determination that the proposal submitted by a third bidder was technically acceptable. The agency's determination that the benchmark tests required by the solicitation must be performed by offerers within the stated guidelines was justified where the record showed that the changes to the guidelines as proposed by the protester would invalidate the testing results and would adversely affect the usability of the proposed system. The allegation that the other offerers proposed similar changes to the benchmark guidelines was without merit based on an independent GAO evaluation of the other proposals. The changes made by two competitors in their benchmark test statements did not constitute violations of the solicitation requirements.