B-216047, AUG 22, 1984, 84-2 CPD 216
Highlights
CONTRACTS - SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS - AWARDS - RESPONSIBILITY DETERMINATION - NONRESPONSIBILITY FINDING - REVIEW BY GAO DIGEST: GAO WILL NOT REVIEW A CONTRACTING OFFICER'S FINDING THAT A SMALL BUSINESS CONCERN IS NONRESPONSIBLE SINCE THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION HAS CONCLUSIVE AUTHORITY TO DETERMINE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS UNDER ITS CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCY PROCEDURES. PETRO MET CONTENDS THAT THE CONTRACTING OFFICER'S DECISION WAS BASED UPON AN INACCURATE PREAWARD SURVEY. THIS OFFICE WILL NOT CONSIDER THE PROPRIETY OF THE CONTRACTING OFFICER'S NONRESPONSIBILITY DETERMINATION SINCE TO DO SO WOULD BE TANTAMOUNT TO SUBSTITUTING OUR JUDGMENT FOR THAT OF THE AGENCY SPECIFICALLY AUTHORIZED BY LAW TO REVIEW SUCH DETERMINATIONS.
B-216047, AUG 22, 1984, 84-2 CPD 216
CONTRACTS - SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS - AWARDS - RESPONSIBILITY DETERMINATION - NONRESPONSIBILITY FINDING - REVIEW BY GAO DIGEST: GAO WILL NOT REVIEW A CONTRACTING OFFICER'S FINDING THAT A SMALL BUSINESS CONCERN IS NONRESPONSIBLE SINCE THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION HAS CONCLUSIVE AUTHORITY TO DETERMINE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS UNDER ITS CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCY PROCEDURES.
PETRO-MET, INC.:
PETRO-MET, INC. (PETRO-MET), PROTESTS THE CONTRACTING OFFICER'S NEGATIVE DETERMINATION OF ITS RESPONSIBILITY UNDER SOLICITATION NO. DLA500-84-B- 0533 ISSUED BY THE DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY (DLA). PETRO MET CONTENDS THAT THE CONTRACTING OFFICER'S DECISION WAS BASED UPON AN INACCURATE PREAWARD SURVEY.
WE DISMISS THE PROTEST.
DLA HAS INFORMALLY ADVISED THIS OFFICE THAT THE CONTRACTING OFFICER HAS REFERRED THE MATTER OF PETRO-MET'S RESPONSIBILITY TO THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (SBA). UNDER 15 U.S.C. SEC. 637(B)(7) (1982), THE SBA HAS CONCLUSIVE AUTHORITY TO DETERMINE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS BY ISSUING OR REFUSING TO ISSUE A CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCY. THEREFORE, THIS OFFICE WILL NOT CONSIDER THE PROPRIETY OF THE CONTRACTING OFFICER'S NONRESPONSIBILITY DETERMINATION SINCE TO DO SO WOULD BE TANTAMOUNT TO SUBSTITUTING OUR JUDGMENT FOR THAT OF THE AGENCY SPECIFICALLY AUTHORIZED BY LAW TO REVIEW SUCH DETERMINATIONS. SEE SKYSPARES PARTS, INC., B-214163, FEB. 10, 1984, 84-1 CPD PARA. 170.