Evan Williams

The Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) timeliness rules are generally straightforward. But as a recent GAO decision shows, agency statements to disappointed offerors can sometimes blur application of the rules—often to

Continue Reading FAR Part 13: Can I Wait to Protest When the Agency Tells Me a Debriefing Will Be Provided?

As required by the Competition in Contracting Act (CICA), the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently published its Annual Bid Protest Report to Congress for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025.[1]

Continue Reading U.S. Government Accountability Office’s Fiscal Year 2025 Bid Protest Report to Congress: Protest Filings Fell While the Overall Effectiveness Rate Stayed Above 50%

Shortly after taking office in 2025, President Donald Trump directed the Pentagon to develop a missile defense shield for the United States. President Trump announced that the system would cost

Continue Reading Government Makes Initial Awards in ‘Golden Dome’ SHIELD Procurement: Flexible Contract Structure Creates a Complex Bid Protest Landscape

On the evening of November 9, the U.S. Senate agreed to a deal aimed at ending the government shutdown.  The deal is the first step toward reopening the federal government

Continue Reading How to Prepare for the End of the Government Shutdown

In 2025, the government has canceled or discontinued billions of dollars in federal grants. Entities seeking to challenge these terminations have faced uncertainty as to which forum is appropriate for

Continue Reading Should I Appeal My Terminated Grants in District Court or the Court of Federal Claims?

The federal government shut down on October 1 after annual appropriations lapsed. Pursuant to the Antideficiency Act, agencies may not incur obligations or expend funds without an enacted appropriation unless

Continue Reading Bid Protests, Disputes, and Federal Contract Delays During the Government Shutdown

On September 9, 2025, the Department of Defense (DOD) released its long-anticipated final rule implementing the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program. As discussed previously, this rule marks a

Continue Reading Final CMMC Rule Effective Nov 10, 2025: What Federal Contractors Need to Know

The Competition in Contracting Act (CICA) of 1984 establishes a procedure that effectively pauses performance of a federal contract award during a bid protest.

If a disappointed bidder files a

Continue Reading CICA Stay Preserved: COFC Rules in Favor of Protester, Applies Equitable Tolling

The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) generally requires contracting officials to identify and evaluate organizational conflicts of Interest (OCIs) as early as possible in a procurement. The FAR also requires the

Continue Reading OCIs: Recent GAO Decision Provides Insight on How to Successfully Challenge an Agency’s Investigation of Organizational Conflicts of Interest

Timing is everything when it comes to bid protests at GAO.

There is a mountain of GAO case law dismissing untimely protests.  Contractors must strictly follow GAO’s regulations to avoid

Continue Reading GAO Holds that Enhanced Debriefing Timing Regulations Control Over Agency Instructions