Protect Awards By Intervention in Bid Protests

As competition for public contract awards continues to intensify, consider intervention in the event that an award to your firm is protested. If an administrative protest is filed, the particular agency rules and regulations may provide for intervention. In the context of a bid protest, intervention means having the chance to directly participate in the defense of a protest and participate in the proceedings.

Florida case law has held that an awardee has a significant interest in the outcome of an award challenge, and therefore, standing to participate in proceedings. By intervening, you will have the opportunity to directly influence the outcome of a protest, and may in the process, be of significant assistance to the public agency in defense of the award. Don’t sit on the sidelines while other parties dispute whether your firm should receive the contract award.

Bear in mind, however, that there may be strict time limitations on the right to intervene in the proceedings. Each agency’s rules will dictate the rights and timing for intervention, so there is no time to waste when a competitor challenges an award.