Protests should generally be made before the contract award because once made, the government rarely terminates a contract and issues a resolicitation. The needs of the government for the product or service usually prevail. The protestor is notified in writing of the final decision on her protest. In either case there are strict rules which must be followed in order for the protest to be timely. If not adhered to the protest will be dismissed automatically.
Strict rules apply to all protests.
Knowing what the government buys and how it buys is essential if a woman business owner is to bid successfully for federal government contracts. Don't think, however, that you can relax once you receive the good news that you have won a contract. Your work is just beginning. If you can't perform according to the terms of the contract, the government won't get the product or service it needs and you may find yourself in financial difficulty as well. The first thing to do is to read the proposed contract carefully before signing it.