Regulation – PART 733 – PROTESTS, DISPUTES, AND APPEALS
Legal Decisisons – The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is known as “the investigative arm of Congress” and “the congressional watchdog.”
What does GAO do? GAO’s Office of the General Counsel regularly issues legal decisions and opinions regarding federal bid protests, appropriations law, and other legal matters.
- Bid Protests: A bid protest is a challenge to the terms of a solicitation or the award of a federal contract. GAO adjudicates and decides these challenges. Learn more about our bid protest work.
- Appropriations Law: We issue legal opinions and decisions to Congress and federal agencies on the use of, and accountability for, public funds, including ruling on potential violations of the Antideficiency Act. Learn more about our appropriations law work.
- Other Legal Work: We also conduct other legal work—such as reviewing how federal agencies comply with the Congressional Review Act and the Federal Vacancies Reform Act. Learn more about our other legal work.
Search Decisions & Docket
Federal agencies are required to award government contracts in accordance with numerous acquisition laws and regulations. If a party interested in a government contract believes that an agency has violated procurement law or regulation in a solicitation for goods or services, or in the award of a contract, it may file a bid protest with GAO. GAO provides an inexpensive and expeditious forum for the resolution of bid protests.