Protest against Exclusion from Competition and Bidders' Capabilities

A protester to a contract award under a small business set-aside complained that it was not solicited and questioned the capability of firms whose names were supplied by the Small Business Administration. The protest against omission from the bidder's list was timely since it was filed within 10 days after the protester became aware of advertisement of procurement, but it was denied since there was significant effort to obtain competition; a reasonably priced bid was received; and there was no deliberate attempt to exclude the protester. A determination of price reasonableness was within the discretion of the contracting officer, and there was no showing of abuse of discretion. Protests against affirmative determinations of responsibility are not reviewed under the circumstances of this case.