How to Protest a GSA Contract Award
If you believe a GSA Schedule task order award was improper — whether because the agency violated procurement rules, the evaluation was flawed, or the awardee did not meet the stated requirements — you have the right to file a protest. Bid protests are a formal legal mechanism for challenging award decisions. The process, timing, and forum for protesting GSA Schedule awards differ from full and open competition protests, and understanding these nuances is critical before filing.
Where GSA Schedule Task Order Protests Are Filed
Protests of GSA Schedule task orders are heard by the agency itself (Agency-Level Protest), the Government Accountability Office (GAO), or the Court of Federal Claims (COFC). For task orders under $10 million, only agency-level protests are available — there is no GAO or COFC jurisdiction for low-value Schedule task order protests. For task orders over $10 million, GAO jurisdiction is available under specific circumstances. The COFC has broader jurisdiction regardless of value for constitutional or statutory violations.
Protest Timelines Are Strict
Protest deadlines are not flexible. For GAO protests, you must file within 10 calendar days of when you knew or should have known the basis for protest. For post-award protests, this is typically 10 days from the date you received notice of award. For agency protests, timelines vary by agency procedures but are often similarly tight. Missing the deadline waives your right to protest on that issue. Request a debriefing immediately after learning of an award to the competition — the debriefing starts your protest clock.
| Forum | Order Value | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Agency-level | Any value | Per agency FAR supplement |
| GAO | >$10M task orders | 10 days from learning of basis |
| COFC | Any value (statutory) | Varies; consult counsel |
What Makes a Viable Protest
Viable protests raise specific, documented legal arguments — not general dissatisfaction with the outcome. Strong protest grounds include: the awardee did not meet a mandatory qualification requirement, the agency deviated from the stated evaluation criteria, the evaluation was irrational or unsupported by the record, or there was a conflict of interest in the evaluation. "We were better" is not a protest ground. Review the RFQ carefully before filing to identify specific deviations from the stated process. Consulting with a government contracts attorney before filing is strongly recommended for any non-trivial protest.