[Protest of USCG Contract Award for Renovation and Modification of Heating and Air Conditioning Systems]

A firm protested a Coast Guard contract award for renovation and modification of heating and air conditioning systems, contending that the Coast Guard improperly allowed the awardee to correct an apparent mistake in its bid, which subsequently displaced the protester's low bid. GAO held that the Coast Guard improperly relied on the awardee's bid worksheets to determine the intended bid price, since: (1) the corrected bid displaced the low bidder; and (2) there was no other obvious or apparent explanation for the price discrepancies in the awardee's bid. Accordingly, the protest was sustained, and GAO recommended that the Coast Guard: (1) terminate the contract and, if otherwise appropriate, make award to the protester; and (2) reimburse the protester for its protest costs.