GAO To Implement Bid Protest E-Filing On May 1, 2018 (Along With Some Other Changes)

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) will cut the ribbon on its Electronic Protest Docketing System (EPDS) on May 1, 2018, according to a final rule published Monday (at 83 Fed. Reg. 13817). The electronic filing system, in the works for years and over the last few months subjected to beta testing by protest counsel, will come without many surprises. Nevertheless, GAO's final rule implements some significant changes to its bid protest process:

• Electronic Filing. Beginning on May 1, 2018, all protests (except those containing classified information) must be filed through EPDS. The same goes for supplemental protests, five-day letters, agency reports, comments, and all other documents related to a protest action. But take note — even though a protest must now be filed with GAO through EPDS, protesters still must provide a copy of the protest to the contracting officer under separate cover.