[Protest of Proposed Navy Contract Award for Metrology Services]

A firm protested a contract award to another firm under a Navy solicitation for metrology services, contending that the Navy erroneously added $15,000 to its bid, which displaced it as the low bidder. The Navy added $15,000 to the bid to cover travel costs, which the protester did not detail in its bid. However, the protester claimed that its bid included travel costs, which were limited by the solicitation. GAO held that: (1) while the protester's bid price probably included travel costs, its actual intended bid was difficult to establish; and (2) while it would ordinarily recommend that the Navy reopen discussions and obtain another round of best and final offers, such a remedy would not be appropriate in this instance because the bid prices have been exposed. Accordingly, the protest was denied.