| name | protest-notice |
| title | Notice of Intent to Protest Award |
| description | Drafts a formal Notice of Intent to Protest Award for federal contracts under FAR 33.103, 33.104, and 4 C.F.R. Part 21. Use when a client receives an adverse contract award decision and must preserve GAO protest rights within the 10-day jurisdictional deadline. Covers bid protests, stay of performance requests, and contracting officer notifications. |
| author | CaseMark |
| author_url | https://github.com/CaseMark/skills/tree/main/skills/legal/protest-notice |
| license | Apache-2.0 |
| version | 0.1.0 |
| execution_mode | open |
| jurisdiction | us |
| practice | government-contracts |
| language | en |
Notice of Intent to Protest Award
Drafts a time-sensitive notice to a contracting agency preserving the client's right to file a GAO bid protest and triggering the statutory stay of contract performance.
Required Inputs
- Solicitation/contract number and procurement title
- Award date or date client learned of adverse action (drives 10-day clock)
- Contracting Officer — name, title, agency, address
- Client — legal name, DBA, UEI/DUNS, offeror status
- Debriefing materials (if received) — scores, narrative, strengths/weaknesses
- Solicitation documents — evaluation factors, notice clauses, contract type
- Basis of protest — preliminary identification of procurement error(s)
Timeliness Rules
| Trigger | Deadline | Authority |
|---|
| Adverse award known | 10 days from knowledge | FAR 33.103(e); 4 C.F.R. § 21.2(a)(2) |
| Post-debriefing | 10 days from debriefing | 4 C.F.R. § 21.2(a)(2) |
| Solicitation impropriety pre-close | Before proposal due date | 4 C.F.R. § 21.2(a)(1) |
| Formal protest after this notice | 10 days from notice filing | 4 C.F.R. § 21.2(a)(3) |
These deadlines are jurisdictional — missing them is fatal.
Document Structure
1. Header Block
[Firm Letterhead]
[Date]
VIA [EMAIL/CERTIFIED MAIL/HAND DELIVERY]
[Contracting Officer Name & Title]
[Agency / Office / Address]
RE: Notice of Intent to Protest Award
Solicitation No. [NUMBER]
[Procurement Title]
Award Date: [DATE] / Date of Knowledge: [DATE]
2. Opening
- State formal Notice of Intent to Protest under FAR 33.103
- Identify protester: legal name, UEI, offeror status
- Identify counsel: name, firm, bar admissions, contact info
3. Standing
Establish interested party standing under 31 U.S.C. § 3551(2) and 4 C.F.R. § 21.0(a)(1):
| Element | Show |
|---|
| Timely proposal | Conforming proposal submitted |
| Direct economic interest |
