[Protest of Forest Service Rejection of Bid for Helicopter Services]

A firm protested the Forest Service's rejection of its bid for helicopter services, contending that its failure to acknowledge a solicitation amendment was a minor informality that it could cure after bid opening, since it proposed wage rates that were higher than those the amendment specified. GAO held that the Service properly rejected the protester's bid, since its employees were not covered by a collective bargaining agreement regarding wage rates and the protester was not otherwise bound to comply with the amendment. Accordingly, the protest was dismissed.