[Protest Against Navy Contract Award for Tug and Barge Charter]

A firm protested a Navy contract award for tug and barge services, contending that the Navy improperly permitted the awardee to substitute an acceptable barge, without reopening discussions. GAO held that, since the solicitation clearly established that the barge was a matter of responsibility, not technical acceptability, the Navy properly allowed the substitution. Accordingly, the protest was denied.