GAO reports slightly fewer protests in FY-20

The Government Accountability Office said today 2,149 protests were filed in fiscal year 2020, down about 2% from the prior year.

In its annual report, which is sent to Congress, GAO said it sustained 15% of the protests it decided, up from 13% last year.

"Our review shows that the most prevalent reasons for sustaining protests during the 2020 fiscal year were: (1) unreasonable technical evaluation; (2) flawed solicitation; (3) unreasonable cost or price evaluation; and (4) unreasonable past performance evaluation," GAO wrote. "It is important to note that a significant number of protests filed with our Office do not reach a decision on the merits because agencies voluntarily take corrective action in response to the protest rather than defend the protest on the merits."

GAO reported a 51% effectiveness rate, defined as the protester "obtaining some form of relief from the agency . . . either as a result of voluntary agency corrective action or our office sustaining the protest." The figure is the highest effectiveness rate in the last five years.