Government Contracts
6 Ways a Construction Attorney Can Assist You With a Bid Protest Part 3
If you placed a competitive bid on a project and that contract was awarded to a competitor, you may have a second chance to compete for that contract with a bid protest. As bid protest activity steadily increases at the U.S. Government Accountability Office (“GAO”), it’s critical that contractors consider their most effective strategies to utilize in order to challenge an awarded contract and seek corrective action.
In this four-part article, the attorneys at Cotney Attorneys & Consultants are discussing bid protests. In the first and second sections, we covered time-sensitive deadlines, grounds for filing a protest, and what venue you should file a protest with. In this section, an attorney will discuss the debriefing process. Remember, whether it’s protesting a procurement, drafting a contract, or filing a mechanics’ lien on a property, a Charlotte construction lien attorney can offer valuable legal advice for any of your construction project needs.
4: Should I Request a Debriefing?
When you have participated in the bidding process for a government contract, even if unsuccessful, you should request a debriefing. There are many benefits to participating in a debriefing. First, this is an excellent networking opportunity as it allows you exclusive access to the governing agency that awarded the contract. Second, it shows this agency that you are committed to learning more about the strengths and weaknesses of your bid and the process in general.
A debriefing can also be an extremely helpful tool that allows you to obtain valuable information that can assist you with preparing your bid protest. For post-award debriefings, you also learn more about the winning bid and can evaluate how that bid compared to your own. For example, a contractor can learn about the total project cost, their technical rating compared to their competitor, among other important information related to the project.
An attorney can be extremely helpful during the debriefing process. After meeting with the contracting officer and learning more about the bid selection process, your attorney can assist you with gathering valuable information from the debriefing to determine the strength of your potential bid protest.
For more information on bid protests, please read section four.
If you would like to speak with a Charlotte mechanics’ lien attorney, please contact us today.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for general educational information only. This information does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as legal advice for your specific factual pattern or situation.