[Protest of GSA Contract Award Requesting Delay for Certification]

A small minority firm protested a General Services Administration contract award which had been set aside for a minority contractor. The protester requested that the procurement be delayed until the Small Business Administration (SBA) could process its application for its certification as an eligible minority contractor so that it could compete under the solicitation. Contracting officers are authorized to let contracts to SBA. In light of this discretionary authority, GAO does not review such matters unless there is a showing of possible fraud or bad faith on the part of Government officials. The fact that SBA had not completed the processing of the protester's application did not amount to such a showing, and there is no rule that requires the suspension of a procurement pending the completion of an application for certification. Accordingly, the protest was dismissed.