For government contractors doing business in Missouri, understanding the state’s bid protest process is essential. When a contractor believes that a contract award was improper or unfair, the state of Missouri allows for a formal protest — but only under strict rules and deadlines.
Below is a summary of Missouri’s bid protest process, including procedural
Contractors pursuing work with the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) must be aware that the Postal Service operates under a unique set of rules. Unlike most federal agencies, the USPS is not subject to the jurisdiction of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) for bid protests. Instead, protests are governed by Section 3.6 of the USPS Purchasing
As the federal government continues to modernize procurement processes and embrace emerging technologies, contractors are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence (AI) tools to streamline their responses to solicitations. From drafting technical proposals to analyzing past performance data, AI offers considerable potential to improve efficiency, accuracy, and competitiveness. However, as with any transformative tool, the use
One of the most powerful but often misunderstood tools available to government contractors is the pre-award protest. Unlike post-award protests, which generally challenge the outcome of a procurement, pre-award protests generally focus on the terms of the solicitation itself and/or the ground rules of the competition. When used strategically, a pre-award protest can help level
In New Mexico, vendors who compete for public contracts have legal recourse if they believe that a government solicitation or contract award was improper. The New Mexico Procurement Code provides a formal bid protest process that allows “aggrieved” bidders or offerors to challenge procurement decisions made by state agencies or local public bodies. This post
Organizational conflicts of interest (OCIs) continue to be a critical compliance risk in the federal contracting landscape. The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) mandates that contracting officers “avoid, neutralize, or mitigate” OCIs to ensure that government decisions are made objectively and without improper influence. For contractors — especially those engaged in professional services, systems engineering, or
The state of Hawaii provides a detailed statutory framework for protesting state procurements to ensure fairness, accountability, and transparency in the government contracting process. This article outlines the essential protest procedures under Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) Chapter 103D, including initial protest requirements, administrative hearings, and judicial review.
Under HRS
For businesses aiming to win federal contracts, navigating the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) is a necessary — and often daunting — first step. Whether you’re a seasoned government contractor or new to federal procurement, understanding how to use SAM.gov effectively is crucial for compliance, eligibility, and success in the competitive public sector marketplace.
This
On February 10, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed Executive Order 14209, titled “Pausing Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Enforcement to Further American Economic and National Security.” That order marked a major shift in the federal government’s approach to Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) enforcement, pausing most new FCPA actions for 180 days and directing the
On May 2, 2025, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA) issued a significant decision in Size Appeal of Bowhead Enterprise, Science, and Technology, LLC, SBA No. SIZ-6352. The decision reinforces a critical defense against ostensible subcontractor affiliation allegations: demonstrating compliance with the SBA’s limitation on subcontracting requirements.