Two firms requested reconsideration of a GAO decision which dismissed their protest of a Defense Fuel Supply Center (DFSC) determination that they were not financially responsible. GAO initially dismissed the protest because, since the firms were small businesses, they were required to seek a Certificate of Competency (COC) from the Small Business Administration (SBA). GAO subsequently found that...

THAT THE AGENCY'S ADVERSE RESPONSIBILITY DETERMINATIONS WERE NOT FOR REVIEW UNDER SBA'S CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCY (COC) PROCEDURES BECAUSE THE PROTESTERS' PRODUCT WAS OF FOREIGN ORIGIN. RULE THAT SMALL BUSINESS FIRMS MUST PURSUE QUESTIONS OF RESPONSIBILITY UNDER COC PROCEDURES IS NOT FOR APPLICATION AND THE PROTESTERS'CHALLENGE TO THE NONRESPONSIBILITY DETERMINATION WILL BE CONSIDERED BY GAO. 2. C...