As we’ve previously discussed at SmallGovCon, a substantial number of GAO bid protests are resolved through voluntary corrective action. While corrective action is typically a desirable outcome for a bid protest, it by no means affords a protester the opportunity to relax. Indeed, as one offeror recently discovered, the failure to diligently protest the scope of a corrective action barred raising certain challenges later on.
Continue readingTag Archives: bid protest
Take Two? GAO Grants Reconsideration of Cost Claim
Requests for reconsideration are rarely granted by GAO and reconsideration of cost claims is even more unique. But GAO recently granted one of these unicorns–recommending additional reimbursement of more than $20,000 to the protester.
Continue readingAgency Bungles Proposal Evaluations; GAO Sustains Protest and Awards Costs
Bid protests are an important part of the federal government’s procurement system. Why? Because sometimes agencies really get the evaluation wrong. They read non-existent requirements into the solicitation; give credit where none is due; and adjust an offeror’s price without forewarning. Thankfully, in those cases, we have GAO to make course corrections.
Continue readingCourt Denies Protest of Procurement, Holds Dept. of Education Had Rational Basis
The Court of Federal Claims recently wrote that “[t]here is no such thing as a perfect procurement.” To anyone familiar with federal government contracts, this commentary states the obvious. But springing from the Court’s observation is another important reality: “a flawed procurement is not necessarily an illegal one.”
Continue readingOne Protest Spoils the Bunch
GAO recently dismissed several bid protests to an $82 billion procurement because of the actions of a company that had already lost its protest.
In AECOM Management Services, four different companies protested the U.S. Army’s logistics civil augmentation program procurement for various “Setting the Theater” services for the Army’s Northern Command, Southern Command, African Command, European Command, Central Command, Pacific Command, and Afghanistan.
Continue readingDebriefings and Bid Protests: Our New Handbook is Available
There’s no doubt about it: being involved in a bid protest can be very intimidating for any government contractor. For that reason, the third volume of our Koprince Law Government Contracting Handbooks discusses debriefings and bid protests in detail.
Continue readingGAO Bid Protest Process: Read our “Contract Management” Magazine Article
GAO’s bid process can be difficult to understand. There are rules about who can file a bid protest and what issues can be protested. And the deadlines for filing are strict and unforgiving.
In the February 2019 issue of Contract Management Magazine (the monthly publication of the National Contract Management Association), we provide a plain English overview of GAO’s bid protest process. We think that, whether you’ve been a federal government contractor for many years or just a few, you’ll find it informative. The magazine has kindly allowed us to post the article. Click here to view and happy reading!