[Complaint Concerning MBDA Cooperative Agreement Awards]

A firm complained of the award and pending award of cooperative agreements for the operation of business development centers by the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA). The protester contended that MBDA violated procedures established in the agency's grant administration manual, questioned the ability of some of the awardees to perform the agreements, and requested a GAO investigation of possible misconduct or fraud. GAO does not review complaints concerning the award of grants or cooperative agreements unless there is a showing that the agency used a grant or cooperative agreement where a contract was required, or that a conflict of interest existed. In this case, the protester did not make the requisite showing to warrant a GAO review of the awards, and GAO no found evidence to support the protester's allegations of misconduct or possible fraud. Accordingly, the complaint was dismissed.