Articles Posted in Incomplete Proposals

Posted September 9, 2025

Too Little, Too Late: Court of Federal Claims Enforces Hard Line on Late Proposal Submissions

In Competitive Innovations, LLC v. United States, U.S. Court of Federal Claims, No. 24-1773 (August 28, 2025), Competitive Innovations (CI) challenged the Transportation Security Administration’s decision to reject its revised proposal in a procurement for program management support services. TSA had disqualified CI for submitting a modification to its labor category mapping after the proposal deadline, and for relying on a GSA schedule modification that was not yet effective when its proposal was due. CI argued the agency’s actions were overly rigid and unfair, and that it should have been granted an extension. The Court disagreed, upholding the rejection and reiterating that when it comes to proposal deadlines in Federal procurements, late is late.

Posted August 4, 2025

“Incumbent-itis” Costs TYD the Contract: GAO Denies Protest Over Incomplete Proposal

by Matt Carter

Matt Carter

In TYD Services, B-423648, July 30, 2025, TYD Services, the incumbent contractor, protested the Army Corps of Engineers’ decision to award a vehicle leasing contract in Qatar to a competitor, Rahman Group, Inc. TYD was excluded from award because its proposal was found technically unacceptable. TYD argued that its past performance as the incumbent should have sufficed, and that the agency should have either overlooked or clarified its missing proposal content. GAO disagreed, providing a harsh reminder that even incumbents must fully comply with all proposal instructions—no matter how minor they may seem.