Federal Bid Protests Up 20% in 2009

Confirming what many have intuitively noted over the last year of a tightening economy, the federal Governmental Accountability Office reported to Congress in early January 2010, that it received 1,989 bid protests in fiscal year 2009, up 20% from the 1,652 filed in fiscal year 2008.  Click here to view the report.

A few weeks ago, a construction attorney commented to me that he had dealt with more bid protests in the last three months than he had in the previous three years.

The increased willingness of contractors, consultants, and vendors to protest award of contracts is a good reminder for public agencies to spend the extra time and effort to make sure the solicitation process and bidding documents are clear and free of ambiguity.