Bid Protest

A bid protest is a formal challenge to a government contract award or solicitation process. Disappointed bidders can file protests alleging errors in the procurement process.

How It Works

Protests can be filed with the contracting agency, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), or the Court of Federal Claims. GAO protests must be filed within 10 days of award or knowledge of the basis for protest. Filing a protest automatically triggers a stay (pause) of contract performance pending resolution. While protests are a legitimate tool, they should be based on genuine procurement errors, not simply disagreement with the outcome.

Example

After losing a contract award, a firm reviews the evaluation scores and discovers the winning firm did not meet a mandatory technical requirement. They file a GAO protest with documentation of the evaluation error. GAO sustains the protest and recommends re-evaluation.

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