[Protest of MSHA Determination To Maintain In-House Performance of Services]

A firm protested the Mine Safety and Health Administration's (MSHA) determination to maintain in-house performance of operation and support services, contending that MSHA: (1) failed to consider its low bid; (2) improperly determined that its staffing level was low; and (3) should reimburse it for its protest preparation costs. GAO held that: (1) MSHA properly rejected the protester's bid, since the bid had staffing and quality control deficiencies; and (2) the protester was not entitled to reimbursement for its protest preparation costs. Accordingly, the protest was denied.