Plunder Scenario 52
A bidder's timely question is not answered or acknowledged in the Q&A period. Because of the oversight, he submitted the bid incorrectly and was declared non-responsive. How should the CPO respond to his protest?
AP Response:
We contested the validity of the protest, emphasizing that the bidder had ample opportunity to notify us of the oversight but failed to do so. Additionally, we argued that by submitting a bid, the bidder implicitly affirmed their understanding and acceptance of the solicitation terms. If the bidder had serious concerns about an unanswered question, the appropriate course of action would have been to protest the solicitation itself. Ultimately, the Chief Procurement Officer denied the protest.