Summary

DIGEST: PROTESTER'S LATE BID WAS PROPERLY REJECTED BY AGENCY NOTWITHSTANDING MAILING OF BID BY U.S. SINCE IT WAS NOT SENT BY CERTIFIED OR REGISTERED MAIL AS PROVIDED BY IFB AND IN ABSENCE OF SHOWING THAT PROPOSAL WAS MISHANDLED BY AGENCY MAKING PROCUREMENT AFTER ITS TIMELY RECEIPT. THE BASIS FOR THE REJECTION WAS THAT GROSS' BID WAS RECEIVED BY LEAVENWORTH AFTER THE TIME FOR BID OPENING SPECIFIED IN THE IFB (DECEMBER 21. THE BID PACKAGE WAS DELIVERED TO AND SENT BY THE LAMBERT AIRPORT BRANCH OF THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE VIA SPECIAL DELIVERY. THE BID WAS NOT RECEIVED UNTIL 9:15 A.M. THE BID WAS DETERMINED TO BE A LATE BID. STANDARD FORM 22 WAS INCORPORATED INTO THE IFB. (THIS PARAGRAPH APPLIES TO ALL ADVERTISED SOLICITATIONS. * * * "(A) BIDS AND MODIFICATIONS OR WITHDRAWALS THEREOF RECEIVED AT THE OFFICE DESIGNATED IN THE INVITATION FOR BIDS AFTER THE EXACT TIME SET FOR OPENING OF BIDS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED UNLESS: (1) THEY ARE RECEIVED BEFORE AWARD IS MADE.