GAO
Government Accountability Office
Government AgenciesDefinition
The Government Accountability Office is an independent agency that audits federal spending and investigates how taxpayer dollars are used. For government contractors, GAO is most relevant as the venue for bid protests — formal challenges to contract award decisions.
If you believe a federal contract was awarded unfairly — the agency didn't follow proper procedures, the evaluation was flawed, or the winning contractor had a conflict of interest — you can file a bid protest with the GAO. Protests must be filed within specific deadlines (typically 10 days after you learn of the award or the basis for protest).
GAO bid protests are a powerful accountability mechanism. When a protest is filed, the agency may be required to stop work on the contract (called a "stay") while GAO reviews the case. GAO issues a decision within 100 days and publishes all decisions publicly, creating a body of procurement case law.
GAO also publishes reports on government programs and spending that can provide useful market intelligence for contractors tracking agency budgets and priorities.
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