[Protest of NOAA Rejection of Bid for a Radar System]

A firm protested the rejection of its bid under a solicitation issued by a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) prime contractor for radar system components, contending that: (1) its protest should be considered because NOAA participated in the rejection of its bid and the prime contractor was acting as purchasing agent for NOAA; and (2) the prime contractor acted in bad faith when it rejected the protester's bid. GAO held that it would not consider the protest because: (1) there was no evidence that NOAA was involved in the rejection of the protester's bid; (2) the prime contractor was not acting as purchasing agent for NOAA; and (3) the protest did not fall within the limited circumstances under which GAO would consider subcontractor protests at the time the protest was filed. Accordingly, the protest was dismissed.