[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 48, Volume 4] [Revised as of October 1, 2006] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 48CFR333.102] [Page 61] TITLE 48--FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATIONS SYSTEM CHAPTER 3--HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES PART 333_PROTESTS, DISPUTES, AND APPEALS--Table of Contents Subpart 333.1_Protests Sec. 333.102 General. (a) Contracting officers shall consider all protests or objections regarding the award of a contract, whether submitted before or after award, provided the protests are filed in a timely manner and are submitted by interested parties. To be considered timely, protests based on alleged improprieties in any type of solicitation which are apparent before bid opening or the closing date for receipt of proposals shall be filed prior to bid opening or the closing date for receipt of proposals. In the case of negotiated acquisitions, alleged improprieties which do not exist in initial solicitations, but which are subsequently incorporated by amendment, must be protested not later than the next closing date for receipt of proposals following the incorporation of the amendment. In other cases, protests shall be filed not later than ten (10) calendar days after the basis for protest is known or should have been known, whichever is earlier. Provided a protest has been filed initially with the contracting officer, any subsequent protest to the Secretary or GAO filed within ten (10) calendar days of notification of adverse action will be considered. Written confirmation of all oral protests shall be requested from protestants and must be timely filed. (g)(1) The Office of Acquisition Management (Division of Acquisition Policy (DAP)) has been designated as the headquarters office to serve as the liaison for protests lodged with GAO. Within the Division of Acquisition Policy (DAP), the Departmental Protest Control Officer (DPCO) has been designated as the individual to be contacted by GAO. (2) Each contracting activity shall designate a protest control officer to serve as an advisor to the contracting officer and to monitor protests from the time of initial notification until the protest has been resolved. The protest control officer should be a senior acquisition specialist in the headquarters acquisition staff office. In addition, contracting activities should designate similar officials within their principal components to the extent practicable and feasible. A copy of each appointment and termination of appointment of protest control officers shall be forwarded to the Director, Division of Acquisition Policy (DAP).