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GAO Bid Protest Activity in Fiscal Year 2023- Increases in Protests and Sustains

Writer's picture: R.D. Lieberman,ConsultantR.D. Lieberman,Consultant

Updated: Dec 6, 2023

The Government Accountability Office (“GAO”) released its annual bid protest report to the Congress for fiscal year 2023 on October 26, 2023 (B-158766). The GAO actually received 2,025 protests in fiscal year (“FY”) 2023 but dismissed or immediately denied or dismissed a substantial number of them, while actually considering and issuing decisions on 608 protests, known as “merit decisions.” This was a 22% increase compared to FY 2022.


The GAO sustain rate rose only slightly from 13 percent in FY 2022 to 31 percent in FY 2023. These figures were adjusted to remove 119 duplicate (multiple) protests and B-numbers in two protests--Systems Plus, Inc. et al, B-419956, June 29, 2023 and Phoenix Data Security, Inc. et al, B-419956.200 et al, July 10, 2023. GAO’s two year average sustain rate in FY 2022-2023 was 13.5 percent. This compares with a two year average sustain rate of 9.71 percent in bid protests during calendar year 2021-2022 before the Court of Federal Claims (information given in a speech by Judge Patricia Campbell-Smith last year).


The other key GAO bid protest statistics for fiscal years 2019-2023 were as follows:


GAO Bid Protest Statistics for Fiscal Years 2019-2023


FY2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 adjusted (see text)

Merit decisions 587 545 581 455 489

Sustained 77 84 85 59 69

Sustain rate 13% 15% 15% 13% 14%

Effectiveness rate 44% 51% 48% 51% 57%

Alternative Dispute

Resolution (ADR)

cases 40 124 76 74 69

ADR success rate 90% 82% 84% 92% 90%

Hearings 2% (21 cases) 1%(9 cases) 1% (13cases) 0.27% (22 cases) 2%


The “effectiveness rate” rose somewhat, from about 51 percent in 2022 to 57 percent in 2023. These are protests where the protester obtained some form of relief from the agency, either as a result of voluntary agency corrective action or the protest being sustained.


The percentage of cases where the GAO conducted a hearing remained small—generally only 1 or 2 percent of the cases.


GAO also reported that there were no instances where a federal agency did not fully implement a recommendation made by the GAO. Also, during 2023, the GAO issued final decisions within 100 days after all protests that were submitted, as required by the Competition in Contracting Act, 31 USC § 3554(e)(2).


Finally, the GAO reported on the most prevalent reasons for sustaining protests that were actually resolved on the merits in FY 2023. These were:


1. Unreasonable technical evaluation

2. Flawed selection decision

3. Unreasonable cost or price evaluation


The GAO also noted that a significant number of protests it received did not reach a decision on the merits because agencies voluntarily took corrective action rather than defend the protest on the merits. Agencies need not and do not report any of the many reasons they decide to take voluntary corrective actions.


For other helpful suggestions on government contracting, visit:

Richard D. Lieberman’s FAR Consulting & Training at https://www.richarddlieberman.com/, and Mistakes in Government Contracting at https://richarddlieberman.wixsite.com/mistakes.


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The website of Richard Donald Lieberman, a government contracts consultant and retired attorney who is the author of both "The 100 Worst Mistakes in Government Contracting" (with Jason Morgan) and "The 100 Worst Government Mistakes in Government Contracting." Richard Lieberman concentrates on Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) consulting and training, including  commercial item contracting (FAR Part 12), compliance with proposal requirements (FAR Part 15 negotiated procurement), sealed bidding (FAR Part 14), compliance with solicitation requirements, contract administration (FAR Part 42), contract modifications and changes (FAR Part 43), subcontracting and flowdown requirements (FAR Part 44), government property (FAR Part 45), quality assurance (FAR Part 46), obtaining invoiced payments owed to contractors,  and other compliance with the FAR. Mr.Lieberman is also involved in numerous community service activities.  See LinkedIn profile at https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-d-lieberman-3a25257a/.This website and blog are for educational and information purposes only.  Nothing posted on this website constitutes legal advice, which can only be obtained from a qualified attorney. Website Owner/Consultant does not engage in the practice of law and will not provide legal advice or legal services based on competence and standing in the law. Legal filings and other aspects of a legal practice must be performed by an appropriate attorney. Using this website does not establish an attorney-client relationship. Although the author strives to present accurate information, the information provided on this site is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date.  The views expressed on this blog are solely those of the author. FAR Consulting & Training, Bethesda, Maryland, Tel. 202-520-5780, rliebermanconsultant@gmail.com

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