On Time Means On Time

Late is late, even if only by 2 minutes, according to the GAO in Omega Systems, Inc. (Nov. 6, 2006, http://www.gao.gov/decisions/bidpro/298767.pdf), denying a protest challenging the Marine Corps' refusal to consider an offeror's late final proposal revision. Although the protester claimed its late proposal revision was acceptable because it was a modification to an "otherwise successful proposal that makes its terms more favorable to the government," the GAO held that an otherwise successful proposal is one that "would result in the award of the contract to the offeror regardless of the late modification," and here the protester's price without the revision was too high to win.