INTERVENE
Intervening in a GAO Bid Protest
If a GAO bid protest is filed against a contract you were awarded, the Contracting Officer must notify you of the GAO bid protest and provide a copy (it may be redacted to excluded confidential information). Since you are the awardee, you have the right to intervene in the GAO bid protest. You may ask, what is the benefit of intervening? After all, the agency lawyer will defend the agency's contract award. Good question.
Do not assume that the agency's lawyer interests are totally aligned with yours. Oftentimes, the agency will succumb to the GAO bid protest and cancel your award as part of their corrective action. By intervening, you have the right to object to the agency's proposed corrective action. Intervention is also important to demonstrate to the agency that you are serious about protecting your award.
Hiring an attorney to intervene in the protest as the added advantage of allowing him or her to have access to protective information.
