[Protest of PCC Contract Award for Tower Construction]

A firm protested the Panama Canal Commission's (PCC) rejection of its bid and subsequent contract award for tower construction, contending that PCC: (1) unreasonably determined that it was not responsible; and (2) improperly failed to rely on the preaward survey official's award recommendation. GAO held that PCC: (1) reasonably determined that the protester, who previously had experienced performance problems, did not provide sufficient proof that it had the necessary technical skills; and (2) was not required to rely on preaward survey results in making responsibility determinations. Accordingly, the protest was denied.