Offerors must be alert to the possibility of technology difficulties when electronically submitting a proposal for a federal procurement as the general rule regarding proposal submissions is that “late is late.” GAO has heard countless cases in which proposal submission via email has presented complications. Proposal submission via government portals has presented similar problems for offerors.
Recently, in People, Technology and Processes, LLC, B-419385, B-419385.2, Feb. 2, 2021, GAO heard a challenge to GSA’s rejection of a proposal from consideration for an order under OASIS. The offeror, People, Technology and Processes or PTP, experienced technical difficulties while trying to submit the proposal via the GSA ASSIST online portal. Although PTP was unable to submit its proposal, no systemic issues were reported with the portal and GSA timely received six proposals from other offerors. In denying PTP’s protest, GAO’s decision provides three takeaways for other offerors using the GSA ASSIST portal.
Continue reading at: Crowell
