Washington, D.C. Metro Area Law Firm Assists With Bid Protests

Learn More About Protesting a Government Contract Award

Need Help Understanding the Bid Protest Process? Whay Law Firm Can Help

The Whay Law Firm has successfully handled numerous protests on behalf of clients challenging contract awards, their exclusion from competition, and those seeking to intervene for awarded contracts. There are strict filing deadlines for filing bid protests, and we will make you aware of the deadlines and the actions necessary to protect your interests.

The Bid Protest Process

A protest is a legal challenge to the actions of the government during the procurement phase, including the establishment of the competitive range, evaluation of bids/proposals and the award of a contract.

Various laws and regulations control the bid protest process. If a company believes the federal government failed to comply with the terms of a solicitation, applicable laws, or procurement regulations, the company must follow strict rules or face losing the right to protest.

Most protests are filed with the Government Accountability Office (GAO), but which venue is best will depend upon various facts. Basic considerations include:

• The value of the procurement to your company
• The cost of pursuing a protest in the particular venue
• Whether the protest would be timely in the venue
• Whether the protest will involve information that requires a protective order

GAO Protest Process

If the protest is based on an obvious problem with the solicitation documents, the protest must be filed with the GAO before the date the bid or proposal is required to be submitted. The purpose of this rule is to prevent a contractor from sitting on their rights to challenge what they believe to be an unfair solicitation, rolling the dice to see if they win, and then, if unsuccessful, filing a protest.

The time requirements for other protests, such as a challenge to the government’s decision to award to another company, will depend on the venue. At the GAO, a protest generally must be filed within 10 days after the basis for the protest is known or should have been known.

• Once the protest is filed with the GAO, the agency has 30 days to provide the agency report (AR), which will show what the agency actually did during the procurement process.
• Once the AR is provided, the protestor has 10 days to file comments responding to the agency’s arguments.
• The GAO will issue its decision within 100 days of the filing of the protest.

Contact Our Bid Award Protest Attorneys Today

If you believe that the government has not abided by the terms of a solicitation, contact the Washington, D.C. Whay Law Firm online or call (202) 448-9677 to schedule your initial consultation today.