[Protest of Proposed VA Contract Award for Boiler Plant Modernization]

A firm protested a proposed Veterans Administration (VA) contract award for boiler plant modernization, contending that: (1) the two low bids were nonresponsive for failure to list the manufacturers and suppliers of major equipment they intended to use, as the solicitation required; and (2) the awardee's statement that it intended to supply acceptable equipment was not sufficient to comply with the requirement, because VA included the requirement to prevent offerers from shopping for suppliers after award to obtain lower costs. GAO held that: (1) VA included the provision only to ensure that offerers supplied acceptable equipment; (2) the awardee's statement that it intended to supply acceptable equipment was sufficient to comply with the requirement; and (3) the protester's contentions regarding the second low bid were academic because the protester failed to demonstrate that the low bid should be rejected. Accordingly, the protest was denied.