Remember the government’s goal is to ensure effective and efficient expenditure of public funds. They also want fair and expeditious resolution of protests to a solicitation or award on government contracts. As a result of these goals the government wants to reduce the number of cases that go outside the agency. Therefore, the government regulation was written to direct that prior to submission of a protest the contracting agency, and all parties use their best efforts to resolve the concerns with the agency contracting officers through open and frank discussions.

What happens when you cannot resolve the problems at this level? Well, you the contractor, can submit a protest to the agency. As a result of the protest, the agency must provide for inexpensive, informal, procedurally simple, and expeditious resolution of protest and to use, where appropriate, alternative dispute resolution techniques, third-party neutrals, or even another agency’s personnel.