Federal Contracting Glossary
GAO Bid Protest
A challenge to a solicitation or award filed with the Government Accountability Office, which can trigger an automatic stay of the contract.
Definition
A GAO bid protest is a formal challenge to the terms of a solicitation or to an award decision, filed with the U.S. Government Accountability Office under its bid-protest jurisdiction. Interested parties — generally actual or prospective offerors whose economic interest is affected — can protest issues such as unstated evaluation criteria, an unreasonable evaluation, or a flawed best-value tradeoff. GAO typically issues a decision within 100 days.
Timing is critical. A protest filed within the deadline can trigger a CICA automatic stay that suspends contract performance while GAO considers the protest. Before a protest, unsuccessful offerors are usually entitled to a debrief explaining the evaluation; protests are often shaped by what the debrief reveals. (Contractors may also protest at the agency level or at the Court of Federal Claims.)
How this affects your proposal
Request and use your debrief — agencies must explain the evaluation, and the debrief both improves your future proposals and surfaces any protestable grounds. Watch the deadlines closely: the timing of your protest determines whether the automatic stay applies.
Common questions about gao bid protest
When does the CICA automatic stay apply?
When a protest is filed at GAO within the statutory timeframe tied to award or to a required debrief. A timely protest generally requires the agency to suspend performance pending GAO's decision, absent an override.
How long does a GAO protest take?
GAO is required to resolve protests within 100 days. Many are resolved sooner, including through "corrective action" where the agency voluntarily fixes the issue.
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