Agency didn't have to clarify vendor's mistakes

Agency requested that vendors include "pre-priced, and non-pre-priced, coefficients for each performance location" as part of vendors' pricing proposals. One of the vendors, however, in the pricing spreadsheet didn't provide coefficients, it provided the full total within the proposal. On protest, that vendor argued that "because it made an obvious error in its pricing proposal, the agency should have afforded the firm an opportunity to correct its mistake." GAO disagreed, noting its longstanding view that seeking clarifications is an option, not an obligation. Protest denied.

GAO: Diversified Maintenance Systems, Inc., B-423945,B-423945.2 (Jan 29, 2026)