[Protest of Determination of Nonresponsibility]

A firm protested a determination that it was nonresponsible and, therefore, ineligible to receive an award under an invitation for bids issued by the Navy for building materials. Because the protester was a small business, the Navy referred its negative responsibility determination to the Small Business Administration (SBA) for consideration under Certificate of Competency (COC) procedures. SBA declined to issue a COC. GAO will not question a negative responsibility determination where it has been affirmed by an SBA denial of a COC absent evidence of fraud or bad faith. Accordingly, the protest was dismissed.