What is a bid protest?

A bid protest is defined as a formal challenge to the terms of a solicitation or the award of a government contract. This process allows interested parties, typically bidders who feel aggrieved by the procurement process, to formally contest the decision made by the government regarding the awarding of a contract.

When a bid protest is filed, it usually goes through specific legal channels, such as the Government Accountability Office (GAO) or the Court of Federal Claims, depending on the context and the nature of the dispute. The purpose of a bid protest is to ensure transparency and fairness in the procurement process by allowing aggrieved bidders to seek a remedy if they believe the process was not conducted in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

This formal nature differentiates it from informal disagreements, negotiation tactics, or appeals related to rejected bids, which may not involve the legal scrutiny and procedural requirements associated with an official bid protest.