[Request for Reconsideration of Dismissal of Protest Against Air Force Contract Award]

A firm requested reconsideration of the dismissal of its protest against an Air Force contract award for the installation of copiers and photocopying services. In its initial protest, the protester alleged that the awardee would not be able to comply with the solicitation requirements, because it proposed to use copiers made by a firm no longer in business. GAO dismissed the protest because it concerned bidder responsibility, which it will not review absent a showing that the agency acted in bad faith or that responsibility criteria were not met. In its request for reconsideration, the protester contended that the protest concerned responsiveness, because the awardee would not be able to rebuild the copiers in the required time. GAO found that: (1) the Air Force had determined that the awardee was capable of rebuilding the copiers and had access to the necessary parts; and (2) the protest concerned the awardee's responsibility, because the protester questioned the awardee's ability to perform the contract and not its willingness to supply exactly what the solicitation required. Accordingly, the prior dismissal was affirmed.