What are the typical grounds for filing a bid protest with the GAO?

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) typically considers protests based on alleged violations of procurement law or regulation, which can include issues with the solicitation, the evaluation of proposals, or the award decision itself. Since your firm is an SBA-certified SDVOSB, a common ground for protest is an improper set-aside or an award to an ineligible contractor.

For federal contracts, the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) governs the process. You mentioned the award went to a competitor who is not an SDVOSB, which could be a protest ground if the contract was specifically set aside for SDVOSBs. Other grounds include unclear or restrictive specifications in the RFP, unequal treatment of offerors, or a flawed evaluation that does not follow the criteria outlined in Section M of the solicitation. You need to file a protest within 10 days after the date on which your debriefing is held, per 4 CFR 21.2(a)(2).