Federal agencies are required to award government contracts in compliance with acquisition laws and regulations. But what happens if a vendor believes an agency violated procurement rules during a solicitation or contract award?

This briefing explains how vendors can file a bid protest; including where to file, when to file, and the advantages and disadvantages of each forum (agency, GAO, or Court of Federal Claims). Attendees will also learn how to assess whether filing a protest is the right business decision and how to use protests strategically to protect and grow their federal business while avoiding common pitfalls.

Recommended Attending Personnel:

Recommended attendees for this briefing include senior vendor leadership, business development, proposal writers, contract managers, and contract officers.

Important: This briefing uses a Zoom-based communication connection via your network. This briefing will be accessible via phone if you are unable to connect online and recorded versions will be distributed with closed-caption for the hearing impaired. Instructions for login will be provided upon registration.

Topical Overview

• What is a Bid Protest?
• Who Can File and Why It Matters
• Pre-Award vs. Post-Award Protests
• Where Can You File?

Protest Pathways

• Grounds for Protest
• Timelines and Automatic Stays
• Pros and Cons of Each Forum

Post-Award Action Steps

• Debriefings: Getting the Most from Your Feedback
• Deciding Your Protest Path

Using Protests Strategically

• When Protesting is a Business Decision
• Leveraging Protests for Competitive Advantage
• Protest Considerations

Q&A

Final Remarks