Government Contracts Chair Rand Allen Discusses Increases in Bid Protests with Legal Times

Rand Allen, chair of Wiley Rein's Government Contracts Practice, was quoted in an article reporting that the number of bid protests filed with the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has increased for the fifth straight year.

According to Legal Times, the increase is a result of "contractor insecurity as the government moves to cut spending." Since 2007, bid protests have shot up from 1,411 filings to 2,353 in 2011.

"I think the increase in bid protests is largely a reflection of actual and expected budget and program cuts," said Mr. Allen. "This means there will be fewer future contracts that companies can compete for so they are fighting harder for, and much more willing to protest, existing contract awards."

Legal Times says that of the 417 cases GAO decided, protests were sustained 16 percent of the time, down from 2010 when protestors won 19 percent of the cases.