[Protest of USDA Contract Award for Restoration of Abandoned Mine Project]

A firm protested a Department of Agriculture (USDA) contract award to another firm for an abandoned mine restoration, contending that USDA erred in accepting a late bid withdrawal and substituting a new bid from the awardee, since the awardee submitted the new bid late and did not withdraw its first bid in person prior to bid opening. GAO held that: (1) the protester abandoned its contention that the awardee submitted the bid withdrawal and new bid late; and (2) the awardee was not required to withdraw the bid in person and timely submitted the withdrawal with its new bid. Accordingly, the protest was denied.