Untimely Challenge

Posted August 27, 2025

Too Late to Speak Up: GAO Dismisses Sole-Source Protest for Inaction

In Economic Systems, Inc., B-423747, et al. (Aug. 22, 2025), Economic Systems, Inc. (EconSys) protested the Department of the Interior’s decision to issue a sole-source purchase order to Government Retirements and Benefits, Inc. for a retirement benefits software platform. EconSys argued that it offered a platform with identical functionality and that the agency’s justification for limiting competition was both flawed and based on incorrect assumptions. The protest raised an important procedural issue: how and when a protester can challenge a sole-source announcement, particularly when the agency’s notice includes ambiguous or mixed messaging about vendor responses.

Posted July 31, 2025

Addx Protest Fails: Untimely at the Agency, Too Late for GAO

by Matt Carter

Matt Carter

In Addx Corp., B-423633, July 23, 2025, Addx protested the Air Force’s issuance of a task order to KL3 LLC under the OASIS+ small business IDIQ contract. Addx challenged both the evaluation of its proposal and an alleged ambiguity in the solicitation, but GAO dismissed the protest as untimely, offering a clear reminder of two procedural pitfalls: (1) the risk of filing an agency-level protest instead of going straight to GAO, and (2) the requirement to raise patent ambiguities before the proposal deadline.

Posted July 9, 2025

Wright Brothers Protest Fails to Take Flight: GAO Grounds Untimely Protest

by Matt Carter

Matt Carter

In Wright Brothers Aero, Inc., B-423326.2 (July 7, 2025), Wright Brothers Aero protested the Defense Logistics Agency’s (DLA) reaffirmation of a contract award for aircraft refueling services to Premier Jet Services, arguing that the agency failed to reasonably implement corrective action and improperly evaluated proposals. But GAO dismissed the protest as untimely, finding that Wright Brothers waited too long after learning about DLA’s award decision.

Posted May 21, 2025

Deadline Missed, Protest Dismissed: GAO Shuts Down Untimely VA Protest

by Matt Carter

Matt Carter

In A2A Integrated Logistics, Inc., B-423433, May 20, 2025, A2A Integrated Logistics protested a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) contract award after learning that its proposal had been rejected due to a technical issue—specifically, the agency’s email server allegedly blocked the submission. A2A maintained that its proposal was timely submitted and should have been considered. However, despite discovering the issue shortly after the submission deadline, A2A waited more than 10 days before filing a formal protest with the agency. After the agency dismissed that protest as untimely, A2A turned to GAO. But GAO likewise dismissed the protest, holding that A2A missed the strict filing deadline and emphasizing that informal communication with the agency does not extend the protest clock.

Posted March 24, 2025

GAO Reinforces Strict Bid Protest Deadlines in SteerBridge Case

by Matt Carter

Matt Carter

In SteerBridge Strategies, LLC, B-422831.2, et al. (Dec. 31, 2024), SteerBridge, a service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB), protested the decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to amend, rather than cancel, a solicitation for modern claims processing support services. The company argued that the amendment effectively created an improper sole-source procurement favoring certain competitors and that the VA’s market research was inadequate.

Posted March 3, 2025

Bid Protest Deadlines and Pitfalls: What You Need to Know

by Matt Carter

Matt Carter

When filing a bid protest, timing is everything. Missing a deadline can be fatal to your case, even if your claims are otherwise strong. This post breaks down critical bid protest deadlines and common timing pitfalls to help contractors avoid costly mistakes.