Bid Failing To Offer Product Meeting All Salient Characteristics of Solicitation Is Nonresponsive

A company protested the rejection of its bid for failure to meet requirements for a "brand name or equal" product, contending that its products satisfied the intent of specifications and met the main salient characteristics. The bid was properly rejected as nonresponsive since the product offered did not meet all of the salient characteristics required. The protest that the salient characteristics required by the solicitation were too restrictive was untimely since it was not filed before the bid opening.