B-208872: Oct 8, 1982

A firm protested the award of any contract to either of two other firms under a solicitation issued by the Bureau of Mines. The protester contended that both bidders were ineligible for award because they were not small businesses. The protester stated that it believed that the bidders' certification of themselves as having small business status was illegal. To rule on the bidders' eligibility for...

B-208872: Oct 8, 1982

GAO DOES NOT CONSIDER ALLEGATIONS THAT CERTAIN BIDDERS ARE INELIGIBLE FOR SET-ASIDE AWARD BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT SMALL BUSINESSES. AS EXCLUSIVE AUTHORITY TO DECIDE MATTERS CONCERNING SMALL BUSINESS SIZE STATUS IS VESTED IN THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. 2. ALLEGATION THAT FIRMS ARE FRAUDULENTLY CERTIFYING THEMSELVES AS SMALL BUSINESSES IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR SET-ASIDE AWARDS IS MATTER OF CRIMIN...