Federal Contract Law Firm Assists Clients with Department of Immigration and Naturalization Bid Protests
Government Contract Lawyers Focus on Bid Protests
Bid protests provide external oversight to government procurements, and the potential for protests increases as the amount of contract work increases. With the federal government’s continued focus on uncovering fraud, waste, and abuse in government contracting, it is very likely that the number of protests challenging affirmative responsibility determinations is likely to continue to increase in the future.
Those involved with the purchase or sale of a government contract should be aware of a recent GAO protest decision overturning the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS’s) award of a $210 million contract because the agency failed to address the fact that the awardee’s proposal substantially relied upon the past performance, corporate experience, and resources of the awardee’s former parent company, which were found to be no longer relevant or accessible, something the agency failed to consider. This decision emphasizes the need to carefully assess and take appropriate steps to minimize transaction-related risks relating to pending proposals.
What Circumstances Lead to a Bid Protest?
In situations where government contracts are complex, have elaborate requests for proposals, or have poorly written requirements, contractors may not always understand the basis upon which awards were made. Not understanding the award criteria can lead contractors to think they were treated unfairly or that an error was made in the award process, leading to a bid protest.
A number of government acquisition officials have attributed confusion on behalf of contractors, in part, to poor communication between government and industry, including agencies not adequately debriefing losing bidders after a contract award. When agencies do not adequately debrief losing bidders, the losing companies may file a protest simply to determine why they lost the competition. Improving agency communication, clarity, and debriefs could likely result in fewer protests.
Contact Our Washington, D.C. Bid Protest Law Firm Today
Do you need help protesting a contract awarded by the Department of Immigration and Naturalization? Contact the Whay Law Firm online or call (202) 448-9677 to schedule your initial consultation with an experienced bid protest attorney today.
