Request for Contract Award

A company protested the award of a contract to any other bidder than itself, contending that the procuring agency was unreasonable in requiring the company to apply to the Small Business Administration (SBA) for a certificate of competency (COC). The COC requirement stems from the statutory protection that is afforded small businesses when a contracting officer determines that such a firm is not a responsible bidder. The SBA has the conclusive authority to decide the question by issuing or denying a COC. Since the question of the validity of the determination of nonresponsibility must be referred to the SBA, there is no basis for GAO to direct the award to a company found nonresponsible by a contracting officer. The protest was dismissed.