Bid Protest Roundup: Timeliness Is of the Essence

Three U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) decisions issued in January 2026 deliver a consistent and unforgiving message: timeliness rules are not technicalities—they are dispositive gatekeeping requirements. In each case, GAO dismissed the protest without reaching the merits based on strict application of its filing rules. Notably, each protester proceeded pro se, underscoring that while GAO may afford some procedural latitude to unrepresented parties, timeliness rules are enforced... By: Morrison & Foerster LLP - Government