As Federated Maritime, LLC, SBA SIZ-6360, 2025 demonstrates, an agency’s review of a size protest must be more than just a surface-level review and a rubber stamp. This size appeal started with a disappointed bidder (here, the Appellant) that questioned the relationship between Schuyler Line Navigation Company, LLC (or Awardee), a company that won two cargo charter contracts, and its alleged affiliates. The contracts were 100% set-aside for small businesses under NAICS Code 483111 – Deep Sea Freight Transportation.
Continue readingTag Archives: size appeals
Back to Basics: Size Protests and Appeals
When a business is poised to win a federal contract award set aside for small businesses, there is always the potential for a competitor to challenge that award on the basis that the proposed winner is not actually a small business based on SBA’s size and affiliation rules. Or, if your company just lost an award, you may consider challenging that the proposed winner is a small business. Either way, it pays to know the basics behind size protests and appeals. While you could read through my recent handbook on Procedures and Pitfalls of Size Protests and Appeals (it’s a good read!), here are some key things to keep in mind when considering size protests and appeals.
Continue reading