-  Bid Protests & Appropriations Law 
            -  Bid Protests                -  File a Bid Protest 
              -  Search Decisions & Docket 
              -  FAQs 
              -  Reference Materials 
            -  Appropriations Law 
            -  Federal Vacancies Reform Act 
            -  Congressional Review Act 
            -  Other Legal Work 

A bid protest is a challenge to the terms of a solicitation or the award of a federal contract. For more than 100 years, GAO has provided an objective, independent, and impartial forum for the resolution of disputes concerning the awards of federal contracts. GAO's Procurement Law Division adjudicates these bid protests.

GAO now has a secure and easy-to-use web-based electronic bid protest filing system for all new protests (excluding those that include classified material) that are filed on or after May 1, 2018.

    Jump To:  
-  Elder Abuse 
-  Services for Older Adults 
-  State and Local-Level Drivers and Trends 
-  State and Local Fiscal Projections 
-  Federal Borrowing 
-  Managing the Debt 
-  Summary of Funding Provisions 
-  Auditing the Government's Books 
-  Unpacking the Financial Report 
-  Highlights 
-  Recommendations 
-  Background 
-  About This Work 
-  About This Work 
-  Trends 
-  About the Center 
-  Why It's High Risk 
-  What Remains To Be Done 
-  Key Reports 
-  Newest COVID-Related Reports 
-  AI Use Cases 
-  Flood Insurance 
-  Past Pandemic-Related Reports 
-  CARES Act Oversight Reports 
-  All COVID-19 Reports 
-  Report Suspected Fraud 
-  Subjects 
-  How to Get Notified 
-  Past Reports 
-  Public Health Threats 
-  Explore the FY 2022 and 2023 Funds 
-  Lessons Learned 
-  Agency Reports 
-  Recent Reports 
-  Recommendations 
-  Supplemental Material 
-  Full Report 
-  Additional Data 
-  View Decision 
-  Downloads 
-  Previously Identified Actions 
-  Related Pages 
-  Associated Agencies 
-  Tough Choices and Opportunities Ahead 
-  Americas Fiscal Future Key Areas 
-  Retirement Security Key Areas 
-  Current List 
-  About The High Risk List 
-  Area Ratings 
-  Previous High Risk Products 
-  Search Federal Vacancies 
-  Past Federal Vacancies 
-  Violation Letters 
-  About the Yellow Book 
-  Advisory Council 
-  Related Resources 
-  Comment Letters 
-  Related Publications 
-  Contacts and Resources 
-  Major Issues Facing the Nation 
-  Meeting Strategic Challenges 
-  Additional Resources 
-  Resources 
-  GAO Contacts 
-  Mission Teams 
-  Operations and Staff Offices  
-  Organization Chart  
-  Why a Career at GAO? 
-  Am I Qualified? 
-  Company Culture 
-  Reasonable Accommodations 
-  Video Gallery 
-  Paid Internships 
-  Student Volunteers 
-  Professional Development Program 
-  Advancement 
-  Executive Candidate Program 
-  Summer Associates 
-  Externships 
-  Benefits 
-  Contacts 

ImageFile a Bid ProtestLearn how to file a bid protest with GAO.

ImageFAQsCheck out some frequently asked questions about GAO's bid protests.

ImageBid Protest Decisions & DocketGAO adjudicates federal contracting disputes. Search our published decisions or, for active bid protest cases, search for the status on our docket.

ImageReference MaterialsCheck out reference materials related to our work on bid protests.

## Our Bid Protest Process

How does GAO handle bid protests? Listen to our podcast with Ralph White, Managing Associate General Counsel for Procurement Law, to find out.

##### Overview of GAO's Handling of Bid Protests

Dec 7, 2010

Transcript

## Timeline of Bid Protest Process

Accessible Text for Timeline of Bid Protest

## GAO Contact

For questions about bid protests, email ProtestFinder@gao.gov or call our Procurement Law Control Group at (202) 512-4788.