GAO & Agency Bid Protests
Attorneys Specializing in Government Contracts
Bid Protest Law Firm
GAO & Agency Level Bid Protests. Nine (9) Things You must Know Now. Bid Protest Law Firm. Attorneys Specializing in Government Contracts.
Nine (9) things you need to know now about GAO bid protests. Get needed help with evaluating and preparing Protests to the GAO and/or to the Agency (Contracting Officer) pursuant to FAR 33.104 and FAR 33.103.
Jeffrey Giancola, the Principal, is a cum laude graduate of Columbia University and received his law degree from the University of Virginia. He is a member of the State of Maryland Bar and has 30 years of experience in the Government procurement field. This Firm is Attorney-Managed and focuses exclusively on U.S. Federal Government contract matters. Small Business Government contracting lawyers.
CONTACT Mr. Giancola here now: GAO BID PROTEST LAWYER.
GAO Bid Protest Requirements:
If you are a disappointed bidder in connection with a Federal Government acquisition, you can file a bid protest with either the Government Accountability Office (GAO) or the Agency itself (or, with the Agency first, to be followed by a GAO protest).
It is highly recommended that you retain the services of a qualified and experienced Government Contracts lawyer to represent you in either of the above types of bid protest actions. The rules on TIMELINESS and STANDING (interested party) are complicated, as are format and content requirements for the protest itself. The GAO Bid Protest Regulations are located at 4 C.F.R. Part 21 (2018).
Filing a GAO Bid Protest (4 C.F.R. §21.1):
The items listed below are required in order to submit a compliant bid protest. The items marked in Italics can be very tricky to navigate successfully, which is why – again – we recommend that you retain competent outside counsel to both evaluate, prepare, and submit any type of protest that you may be considering.
Many GAO protests dockets are subject to a Protective Order (and appropriately so as the acquisitions are ongoing). Only Outside Counsel can apply for admission to a GAO Protective Order; as such, procedural problems will immediately arise in your case if you attempt to represent yourself in this type of legal action.
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“(a) An interested party may protest a solicitation or other request by a Federal agency for offers for a contract for the procurement of property or services; the cancellation of such a solicitation or other request; an award or proposed award of such a contract; and a termination of such a contract, if the protest alleges that the termination was based on improprieties in the award of the contract.
Here are 9 Things That You Must Know Now About GAO Bid Protests:
(b) Protests must be filed through the EPDS.
(c) A protest filed with GAO shall:
(1) Include the name, street address, email address, and telephone and facsimile numbers of the protester,
(2) Be signed by the protester or its representative,
(3) Identify the agency and the solicitation and/or contract number,
(4) Set forth a detailed statement of the legal and factual grounds of protest including copies of relevant documents,
(5) Set forth all information establishing that the protester is an interested party for the purpose of filing a protest,
(6) Set forth all information establishing the timeliness of the protest,
(7) Specifically request a ruling by the Comptroller General of the United States, and
(8) State the form of relief requested.
(d) In addition, a protest filed with GAO may:
(1) Request a protective order,
(2) Request specific documents, explaining the relevancy of the documents to the protest grounds, and
(3) Request a hearing, explaining the reasons that a hearing is needed to resolve the protest.
(e) The protester shall furnish a complete copy of the protest, including all attachments, to the individual or location designated by the agency in the solicitation for receipt of protests, or if there is no designation, to the contracting officer. The designated individual or location (or, if applicable, the contracting officer) must receive a complete copy of the protest and all attachments not later than 1 day after the protest is filed with GAO. The protest document must indicate that a complete copy of the protest and all attachments are being furnished within 1 day to the appropriate individual or location.
(f) No formal briefs or other technical forms of pleading or motion are required. Protest submissions should be concise and logically arranged, and should clearly state legally sufficient grounds of protest. Protests of different procurements should be separately filed.
(g) Unless precluded by law, GAO will not withhold material submitted by a protester from any party outside the government after issuing a decision on the protest, in accordance with GAO’s rules at 4 CFR part 81. If the protester believes that the protest contains information which should be withheld, a statement advising of this fact must be on the front page of the submission. This information must be identified wherever it appears, and within 1 day after the filing of its protest, the protester must file a final redacted copy of the protest which omits the information.
(h) Protests and other documents containing classified information shall not be filed through the EPDS. Parties who intend to file documents containing classified information should notify GAO in advance to obtain advice regarding procedures for filing and handling the information.
(i) A protest may be dismissed for failure to comply with any of the requirements of this section, except for the items in paragraph (d) of this section. In addition, a protest shall not be dismissed for failure to comply with paragraph (e) of this section where the contracting officer has actual knowledge of the basis of protest, or the agency, in the preparation of its report, was not prejudiced by the protester’s noncompliance.”
One Thing NOT to Do: Don’t Go it Alone!
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CONTACT us here now to consult with Mr. Giancola about your potential case: GAO BID PROTEST ATTORNEY.
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SBA Bid Protests:
IMPORTANT NOTE: SBA Small Business Size or Status Bid Protest. The GAO will NOT take jurisdiction over these types of small business bid protests, and it is a waste of time and money to hire an attorney to file such a protest with the GAO as it will be promptly dismissed. Please click on the following link if you think that you may have the basis for an SBA size or status bid protest: CONTACT SBA BID PROTEST LAWYER.
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Helpful Links to GAO Bid Protest Law Firm Resources:
* GAO Bid Protest Reference Materials
https//www.gao.gov/legal/bid-protests/reference-materials
* Should You Hire a Government Contracts Lawyer?
What to do if You Need a Government Contracts Lawyer
* Do you need a SBA Bid Protest lawyer for small business size or status protest matter?
SBA Small Business Size or Status Protests
* Have You Received a FAR Cure Notice or a Show Cause Letter from the Government?
Cure Notice – Show Cause Notice – Letter of Concern
* Do You Need an Overseas Government Contractor Lawyer?
Overseas Government Contractor Lawyer
* Have You Been Accused of Government Procurement Fraud?
Contact a Procurement Fraud Lawyer Here Immediately
* Download the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) & DFARS now