Protest Involving Bid for Subcontract

A firm protested its rejection as a subcontractor on a construction contract. An educational institution awarded prime contracts to a plumbing and heating firm for mechanical construction and to an another firm for architectural and consulting services. The plumbing and heating firm selected the protester as a subcontractor, but the architectural firm rejected its selection because the protester was not a member of the Associated Air Balance Council (AABC) as required in the solicitation. The protester contended that it had the same qualifications and capabilities as members of the AABC. The Federal Government's interest in the project was limited to a Department of Health, Education, and Welfare interest grant. GAO held that since the Federal Government was not funding the project and was not a party to the construction contracts, it would not consider the protest.