The Bid Protest Debrief
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.
The Decision
GAO dismissed the protest, based on the following issues:
- Untimely Challenge to Solicitation Terms: SteerBridge failed to challenge the allegedly restrictive requirements before the initial solicitation deadline. Once the due date for proposals passed, the company could no longer argue that the solicitation unfairly favored incumbents.
- Market Research Argument Rejected: GAO found that the VA’s decision to amend instead of cancel the solicitation did not revive SteerBridge’s ability to challenge prior market research shortcomings.
Key Takeaways for Contractors
- Protest Early: If you believe a solicitation contains unfair or restrictive requirements, you must file a protest before the initial due date—waiting until a later amendment will likely result in dismissal.
- Watch for Incumbent Favoritism: If a solicitation appears tailored for an incumbent, identify and challenge specific technical requirements before the proposal deadline, not afterward.
- Market Research Challenges Are Tough: GAO typically defers to the agency’s research unless a clear failure to assess competition exists. Contractors should document and present evidence of excluded capable vendors when making such arguments.
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