Winning a federal contract is only the beginning. From challenging an unfavorable award to navigating unexpected issues during performance, federal contractors face critical decisions that can have a significant impact on their rights, relationships with the government, and bottom line.

Join Maria Panichelli for the latest installments of The Federal Contractor’s Legal Playbook, an ongoing webinar series addressing the practical legal issues federal contractors face throughout the contract lifecycle.

In these upcoming sessions, we’ll cover bid protests—from evaluating an unfavorable award and making the most of a debriefing to choosing a protest forum and navigating the litigation process—as well as critical claims considerations for federal construction contractors.

Across the series, you’ll learn how to:

• Make the most of a federal contract debriefing
• Recognize potential protest issues and grounds
• Determine when, where, and how to pursue a bid protest
• Navigate key protest procedures and deadlines
• Understand what to expect throughout the protest litigation process
• Protect your rights when changes, delays, and other issues arise during contract performance
• Preserve your ability to seek additional compensation and position your claims for success

Advanced Topics in Bid Protest Litigation: Venues, Procedures & Timelines

Building on Bid Protests 101, we’ll help you understand your options when deciding where and how to pursue a bid protest. You’ll learn how the Agency, GAO, and COFC forums differ, the advantages and potential drawbacks of each, and what factors to consider when determining which forum may be right for your situation.

We’ll also walk through what to expect once a protest is filed—including key documents, deadlines, and the role of defense counsel—so you can better prepare for each stage of the process. By the end of the session, you’ll have a practical roadmap for navigating a bid protest from filing through decision or corrective action.

More from The Federal Contractor's Legal Playbook:

Session 1 – Asserting Bid Protests 101 - Sept. 29

Session 3 – Critical Claims Considerations for Federal Construction Contractors: Protecting Your Rights During Contract Performance - Dec. 15