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Don't Assume That A Debriefing Is Continuing After The Initial Session

Client Alert | less than 1 min read | 05.25.05

In New SI, LLC (Nov. 22, 2004, http://www.gao.gov/decisions/bidpro/295209.htm), GAO concluded that a protest was untimely filed when the contractor waited until after it had received agency responses to the contractor's additional questions submitted at the invitation of the Contracting Officer in the course of the initial debriefing session. In response to the contractor's argument that the debriefing was continuing and not concluded until after the agency's response to questions, GAO explained that, “absent affirmative indication from the agency that the debriefing would remain open after the scheduled session, we consider [the debriefing] to have concluded at the end of that [initial] session.”

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Client Alert | 4 min read | 09.15.26

GAO Indicates Reasonable Conflict of Interest Investigation Must Include Inquiry of Involved Firm

The U.S. Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) recent decision in Viderity Inc.—Costs, B-424422.5, Sept. 1, 2026, offers useful insight into what constitutes a legally sufficient conflict of interest investigation. The decision arose in an unusual procedural posture: Viderity initially protested, alleging that an agency evaluator had a personal conflict of interest. After the agency took corrective action, Viderity filed a cost entitlement claim requesting that GAO direct the agency to reimburse Viderity’s protest costs. In evaluating that claim, GAO assessed whether Viderity’s underlying protest ground was “clearly meritorious.”...