[Protest Against Coast Guard Decision To Perform Shipboard Electronic Maintenance In-house]

A firm protested a Coast Guard decision not to contract for electronic systems maintenance, contending that the Coast Guard: (1) improperly determined that it was nonresponsible; (2) supplied the Small Business Administration (SBA) with negative, inaccurate information for its certificate-of-competency (COC) determination; and (3) improperly conducted a cost comparison. The protester also contended that SBA improperly reviewed its credit, since the Coast Guard did not raise that issue. GAO held that the Coast Guard: (1) reasonably determined that the protester was nonresponsible, based on its lack of experience and personnel; and (2) properly provided SBA with the basis for its determination of nonresponsibility. GAO also held that the protester: (1) failed to establish that either agency acted in bad faith or violated procurement regulations; (2) was not sufficiently interested to protest the cost comparison, since it was ineligible for award; and (3) was not entitled to reimbursement for its bid and protest preparation costs, since the protest was without merit. Accordingly, the protest was dismissed in part and denied in part.