XL EagleGAO protest (Government Accountability Office bid protest)
GAO protest stands for Government Accountability Office bid protest. A GAO protest is a bid protest filed with the Government Accountability Office, an independent agency of Congress. It is the most common forum for federal bid protests. GAO generally issues a decision within 100 days.
Timing rules are strict. Protests about solicitation terms must be filed before the bid closing time. Other protests are generally due within 10 days after you knew or should have known the basis, with special timing when a required debriefing is requested. Filing quickly after award can trigger an automatic stay that pauses contract performance while GAO decides.
Why it matters to a small contractor
GAO is a relatively low-cost way to challenge a flawed award, and a sustained protest can lead the agency to re-evaluate or re-compete. But GAO only reviews whether the agency followed the law and the solicitation, not whether you had the better offer. Count your days from the moment you learn the basis.
Example
A small grounds firm learns from a debriefing that the agency scored them on a factor that was never in the solicitation. They file a GAO protest within the deadline, and the agency takes corrective action by re-evaluating proposals.
GAO protest: common questions
How long does a GAO protest take?
GAO generally must decide within 100 days of filing. Many protests end sooner through corrective action or withdrawal.
What is an automatic stay in a GAO protest?
If a protest is filed within the required window after award or debriefing, the agency generally must suspend performance until GAO decides, unless it makes a formal override.
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