[Protest of USDA Contract Award for Food Stamp Printing Services]

A firm protested a Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) contract award to another firm for the printing of food stamp coupon books. The award was part of a multiple award to the protester and the awardee. The protester contended that: (1) FNS improperly made multiple awards; (2) the awards were inconsistent with the solicitation specifications; (3) FNS failed to inform it of technical concerns over its proposal during discussions; (4) FNS discouraged it from submitting alternative bids but encouraged the awardee to do so; (5) FNS orally suggested that it was under consideration for the entire award; (6) the awardee's proposal was unbalanced; and (7) FNS unreasonably determined that it lacked the capability of performing the entire contract. GAO held that: (1) since FNS properly and reasonably determined that no single offerer could perform the entire contract, it properly awarded multiple contracts; (2) the solicitation reserved for FNS the right to make multiple awards; (3) FNS held full and meaningful discussions; (4) FNS did not preclude the protester from submitting alternative proposals; (5) FNS records did not support the contention that FNS advised the protester that it was under consideration for the entire award; (6) FNS conducted a cost analysis and reasonably determined that the awardee's bid was neither materially nor mathematically unbalanced; and (7) FNS reasonably determined that, based on the protester's past performance, it was not sufficiently responsible to perform the entire contract. Accordingly, the protest was denied.