Allegation of Undue Harassment by Agency Quality Assurance Personnel

A company protested contract awards, contending that it was unduly harassed by agency personnel and that its difficulties in meeting delivery requirements under its present contract were due to extremely intensive and harsh agency quality assurance procedures. There was a reasonable basis for the contracting officer's determination based on the preaward survey that the protester was not responsible, and the Small Business Administration's denial of a Certificate of Competency affirmed the determination of nonresponsibility. The protester's delay in performance of previous contracts was the result of its weakened financial condition, increasing prices, and insufficient personnel and was not the result of arbitrary inspection procedures or other improper actions by the agency's quality control personnel.