Bidder's Compliance with Requirement To Subcontract to Minority Businesses

A protester alleged that the awardee of a contract was given an unfair advantage because of waiver by the agency of the "minority contractor subcontracting requirements." The protest involved the agency's affirmative determination of responsibility which is not generally reviewed by GAO, but since compliance with the agency's intent to subcontract 20 percent of the value of subcontractors to minority businesses involved a definitive responsibility criterion, it was reviewable. The contracting officer's determination that the potential awardee should be found responsible in the minority subcontracting area was supported by objective evidence.