[Protest of DGSC Rejection of Offer as Technically Unacceptable]

A firm protested the Defense General Supply Center's (DGSC) rejection of its bid as technically unacceptable, contending that its alternate product was functionally equivalent to the required item. GAO held that: (1) DGSC properly rejected the protester's bid, since its alternate product was not identical to or completely interchangeable with the required item; (2) the protester untimely protested the product description after receipt of initial proposals; and (3) DGSC reference to an acceptable brand-name product did not result in a sole-source procurement. Accordingly, the protest was denied in part and dismissed in part.