Small Business Administration Denial of Certificate of Competency Is Viewed as Affirmative Determination of Nonresponsibility

A small business firm, found to be a nonresponsible bidder by the procuring agency and denied a Certificate of Competency (COC) by the Small Business Administration (SBA), may not expect GAO to review the matter. SBA's denial of the COC is viewed as a final determination. GAO will consider a protest only if there is prima facie evidence of fraud or where the record shows that vital information has not been considered. In this case, SBA denied the COC because of a lack of reliable information concerning the firm's financial capability.