121.1004—What time limits apply to size protests?
(a) Protests by entities other than contracting officers or SBA—
(1) Non-negotiated procurement or sale.
A protest must be received by the contracting officer prior to the close of business on the 5th day, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, after bid or proposal opening.
(2) Negotiated procurement.
A protest must be received by the contracting officer prior to the close of business on the 5th day, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, after the contracting officer has notified the protestor of the identity of the prospective awardee.
(3) Long-term contracts.
For contracts with durations greater than five years (including options), including all existing long-term contracts, Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Contracts, Multiple Agency Contracts (MACs), and Government-wide Acquisition Contracts (GWACs):
(i)
Protests regarding size certifications made for contracts must be received by the contracting officer prior to the close of business on the 5th day, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, after receipt of notice (including notice received in writing, orally, or via electronic posting) of the identity of the prospective awardee or award.
(ii)
Protests regarding size certifications made for an option period must be received by the contracting officer prior to the close of business on the 5th day, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, after receipt of notice (including notice received in writing, orally, or via electronic posting) of the size certification made by the protested concern.
(A)
A contracting officer is not required to terminate a contract where a concern is found to be other than small pursuant to a size protest concerning a size certification made for an option period.
(iii)
Protests relating to size certifications made in response to a contracting officer's request for size certifications in connection with an individual order must be received by the contracting officer prior to the close of business on the 5th day, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, after receipt of notice (including notice received in writing, orally, or via electronic posting) of the identity of the prospective awardee or award.
(4) Electronic notification of award.
Where notification of award is made electronically, such as posting on the Internet under Simplified Acquisition Procedures, a protest must be received by the contracting officer before close of business on the fifth day, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, after the electronic posting.
(5) No notice of award.
Where there is no requirement for written pre-award notice or notice of award, or where the contracting officer has failed to provide written notification of award, the 5-day protest period will commence upon oral notification by the contracting officer or authorized representative or another means (such as public announcements or other oral communications) of the identity of the apparent successful offeror.
(b) Protests by contracting officers or SBA.
The time limitations in paragraph (a) of this section do not apply to contracting officers or SBA, and they may file protests before or after awards, except to the extent set forth in paragraph (e) of this section. Notwithstanding paragraph (e), for purposes of the SBIR program the contracting officer and SBA may file a protest in anticipation of award.
(c) Effect of contract award.
A timely filed protest applies to the procurement in question even though a contracting officer awarded the contract prior to receipt of the protest.
(d) Untimely protests.
A protest received after the allotted time limits must still be forwarded to SBA. SBA will dismiss untimely protests.
(e) Premature protests.
A protest filed by any party, including the contracting officer, before bid opening or notification to offerors of the selection of the apparent successful offer will be dismissed as premature.