IPI Graphics, B-286830; B-286838, January 9, 2001

IPI Graphics, B-286830; B-286838, January 9, 2001 TITLE: IPI Graphics, B-286830; B-286838, January 9, 2001 BNUMBER: B-286830; B-286838 DATE: January 9, 2001 ********************************************************************** IPI Graphics, B-286830; B-286838, January 9, 2001 [Image]Decision Matter of: IPI Graphics File: B-286830; B-286838 Date: January 9, 2001 Frederic G. Antoun, Jr., Esq., for the protester. Roy E. Potter, Esq., Government Printing Office, for the agency. Aldo A. Benejam, Esq., and Christine S. Melody, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST Agency reasonably determined that protester was nonresponsible based upon conclusion that protester lacked the capability necessary to perform the contract where protester failed to demonstrate or provide sufficient evidence to show that it has adequate production controls and quality assurance methods to satisfy the quality requirements of the contracts. DECISION IPI Graphics, Inc. protests the determinations by the Government Printing Office (GPO) that it is nonresponsible under two invitations for bids (IFB) designated as programs Nos. B315-S and C518-S, for various publications for the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Department of the Interior. IPI argues that the nonresponsibility determinations lack a reasonable basis. We deny the protests. Both IFBs contemplated the award of a fixed-price requirements contract for the required printing services. Under program No. B315-S, the contractor is to provide booklets, guide books, and handbooks, estimated at between 2,000 to 40,000 copies per order from November 1, 2000 through October 31, 2001. Under program No. C518-S, the contractor is to provide estimated quantities ranging from 12,000 to 15,000 of a booklet titled "Humanities," on a bi-monthly basis from December 1, 2000 through November 30, 2001. The IFBs provided that a quality assurance level II (QL II) standard for printing and finishing would apply to items produced under the contracts. Under program No. B315-S, the specifications covered the production of books and pamphlets requiring such operations as "conventional and electronic pre-press, color separation, creation of preliminary film, halftone, duotone, tritone, quadtone, . . . printing on face and back in one to six colors including four color process inks from film or digital files, paper, binding, packing, and distribution." Agency Report (AR) B315-S, exh. A, at 4. Under program No.C518-S, the specifications covered the production of a "self-cover publication requiring such operations as electronic prepress, color separation, printing in four-color process plus one additional color, binding, packing, and distribution." Id. C518-S, exh. A, at 5. Both IFBs advised that in order to determine the responsibility of the prime or any subcontractor, the government reserved the right to conduct on-site preaward surveys of the firm's facilities, or require other evidence of technical, production, managerial, financial, and similar abilities to perform the contract. In order to determine IPI's responsibility, the contracting officers (CO) inquired from the GPO's Quality Assurance Section (QAS) regarding IPI's ability to produce acceptable QL II work. In addition, with respect to program No. B315-S, on October 17, 2000, a GPO representative completed a preaward survey form in which he noted in the remarks section that as of March 23, 1999, he "recommend[ed] no awards to [IPI] at [QL II] containing all 4 color process for multi sig- pieces (pamphlet and books) . . ."; he also specifically recommended "no award" to IPI under the IFB here. AR B315-S, exh. B, Preaward Survey. The record shows that IPI had asked that the QAS reassess its recommendation that IPI not be awarded any work involving QL II. In connection with this request, the GPO conducted an on-site inspection of IPI's press sheets and samples at the firm's facility on November 3, 2000. The inspection report found several defects in IPI's products, including "hickies and spots," "register," "type quality and uniformity," "solid or screen tints color match," and "process control match." AR C518-S, exh. B, Contractor Quality Level Inspection Report. Based on the results of that inspection, the CO concluded that IPI had "failed to increase their quality to a [QL II] level." Id., exh. B, Determinations and Findings, Nov.