[Protest of Proposed GSA Contract Award for Upholstered Seating]

A firm protested several proposed General Services Administration contract awards for upholstered seating, contending that the bidders agreed to only bid on items in noncompeting geographical areas. GAO held that: (1) collusive bidding is a matter for the contracting officer to consider when determining bidder responsibility; and (2) if the contracting officer determined that the bidders were responsible, it would not challenge the determination absent a showing of possible fraud or bad faith. Accordingly, the protest was dismissed.