[Protest of Proposed Navy Contract Award for Installation of Ship Deck Covering]

A firm protested a proposed Navy contract award, contending that a proposed employee of one bidder on the contract is employed by another bidder and assisted in the firm's proposal preparation. Therefore, the protester contended that one bidder might have knowledge of its competitor's price and, therefore, award to the firm would be improper. Matters of collusive bidding are for the determination of the contracting officer and, if found, should be reported to the Attorney General for prosecution. Otherwise, GAO does not challenge determinations of bidder responsibility absent a showing of fraud or bad faith. If the protester believed that one bidder obtained price information from the other without its knowledge, this would be a basis for a dispute between the parties for resolution through court action rather than by bid protest. Accordingly, the protest was dismissed.