AMC-LEVEL PROTEST PROGRAM

 

A protest to a U.S. Army Materiel Command-Level protest forum is a “protest to the agency,” within the meaning of FAR 33.103. The HQ AMC-Level Protest Program is intended to encourage interested parties to seek resolution of their concerns within AMC as an Alternative Dispute Resolution forum, rather than filing a protest with the Government Accountability Office (GAO) or other external forum. These procedures apply to the HQAMC-Level Protest Program only.

Interested Parties

  • An interested party is an actual or prospective bidder or offeror whose direct economic interest would be affected by the award of a contract or by the failure to award a contract
  • Federal Government employees, unions or installations are not considered interested parties for the purposes of filing a HQAMC-level protest
  • Private-sector offerors on acquisitions subject to OMB Circular No. A-76 are also not considered interested parties for purposes of filing a HQAMC-level protest
 

HQ AMC-level protest procedures

  • Protest decision authority: The AMC Command Counsel is designated as the HQAMC protest decision authority. This authority is delegable to the AMC Deputy Command Counsel.
  • Time for filing a protest: A HQAMC protest shall be filed in accordance with the time-frames set out in FAR 33.103(e). HQAMC office hours are 8:00AM to 4:30PM Central Standard Time. Time for filing any document expires at 4:30 PM (CST) on the given day.
  • Election of forum: After an interested party protests an AMC procurement to HQAMC and while that protest is pending, the protester agrees not to file a protest with the GAO or other external forum. If a protest is filed with an external forum on the same solicitation as the HQAMC-level protest - whether filed by the current protester or other party, or involving the same or different issues - the HQAMC-level protest will be dismissed.
  • GAO Bid Protest Jurisdictional Threshold: This office applies the GAO’s $25 million jurisdictional threshold to protests of task and delivery orders issued under Department of Defense (DoD) procurements. Therefore, this office will summarily dismiss such protests without rendering a decision on the merits.
  • Required information: Protests must be signed by an authorized representative of the protester. AMC-Level protests must contain the Protester’s name, address, telephone number, fax number, solicitation or contract number, identity of the contracting activity and the contracting officer’s name, detailed statement of all legal and factual grounds for protest (mere disagreement with the decisions of contracting officers does not constitute grounds for protest), copies of all relevant documents, request for a ruling, request for relief.

 

Where to file: An agency protest may be field with either the Contracting Officer or to HQ AMC.

A Protest to the Contracting Officer shall be filed at the address designated in FAR Clause 52.233-2 of Section L of the solicitation at issue.

A Protest to HQ AMC shall be filed either by regular mail, email or fax at:

Fax: 256.450.8840
E-mail: usarmy.redstone.usamc.mbx.protests@army.mil
Address:
Headquarters, U.S. Army Materiel Command
Office of Command Counsel-Deputy Command Counsel
4400 Martin Road
Rm: A6SE040.001
Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898-5000

Processing of HQAMC-level protests:

  • Within 20 days after the protest is filed, the contracting officer, with the assistance of legal counsel, shall file with the HQAMC Office of Command Counsel (ATTN: AMCCC-PL) one copy of an administrative report in response to the protest.
  • Reports shall be sent by email, fax, over-night mail or hand-delivered to ensure timely receipt.
  • The HQAMC protest decision authority will issue a written decision within 45 days of the protest filing. If circumstances require a longer time period to issue a written decision on a protest, the protester will be notified in writing concerning any extension. The written decision issued by AMC shall be binding on AMC and its contracting activities.

The HQAMC protest decision authority may grant any one or combination of the following remedies:

  • Terminate the contract
  • Recompete the requirement
  • Issue a new solicitation
  • Refrain from exercising options under the contract
  • Award a contract consistent with statute and regulation
  • Pay appropriate costs as stated in FAR 33.102(b)(2)
  • Other remedies as the HQAMC protest decision authority determines necessary to correct a defect

Effect of protest on award and performance:

  • Protests before award: When a protest is filed with HQAMC prior to award, a contract may not be awarded unless authorized by the Army Contracting Command (ACC) Commanding General (CG), in accordance with FAR 33.103(f)(3) and AFARS 5133.103(d)(4)(i). The ACC CG may authorize contract award, notwithstanding the protest, upon a written finding that contract performance will be in the best interests of the United States; or urgent and compelling circumstances that significantly affect the interests of the United States will not permit waiting for a decision from the HQAMC protest decision authority. This authority may be delegated to the ACC Deputy to the CG without the power to delegate further.
  • Protests after award: When a protest is filed with HQ AMC within ten days after award, or within five days of a debriefing date offered for any debriefing that was timely requested as required by FAR 15.506, the contracting officer shall suspend performance pending resolution of the protest. The ACC CG, in accordance with FAR 33.103(f)(3) and AFARS 5133.103(d)(4)(i), may authorize contract performance, notwithstanding the protest, upon a written finding that contract performance will be in the best interests of the United States; or urgent and compelling circumstances that significantly affect the interests of the United States will not permit waiting for a decision from the HQAMC protest decision authority. This authority may be delegated to the ACC Deputy to the CG without the power to delegate further.