What is the process for filing an agency-level protest and what are the timelines?

The process for filing an agency-level protest involves submitting your protest directly to the contracting agency, typically to the contracting officer for federal acquisitions. For federal contracts, the process is outlined in FAR 33.103. If your protest is based on an apparent impropriety in the solicitation, you must file it before bid opening or the closing date for proposals. For all other types of protests, such as an unfavorable award decision, you must file no later than 10 days after you knew or should have known the basis of the protest (FAR 33.103(e)). Agencies are required to make their best efforts to resolve agency-level protests within 35 days after the protest is filed (FAR 33.103(g)). State and local government protests follow their specific state procurement codes and the guidance in the relevant purchasing portal's vendor guide.