[Protest of VA Contract Award]

A firm protested a Veterans Administration contract award, contending that it was the lowest bidder for a particular item. The agency found that the protester, a minority-owned business, was not responsible. The matter was referred to the Small Business Administration (SBA) for possible issuance of a Certificate of Competency (COC), but SBA refused to issue the COC. GAO noted that SBA has conclusive authority to determine the responsibility of small business firms and the determination will not be reviewed unless the protester makes a showing of fraud or bad faith. The record contained no such allegations. Accordingly, the protest was dismissed.