To whom should protests to the agency be addressed?

Protests to the agency should be addressed to the contracting officer because the contracting officer is the official responsible for managing and executing contracts on behalf of the agency. They are the point of contact for concerns regarding procurement actions, including the receipt of protests.

It's critical that protests are directed to the contracting officer so that they can examine the issues raised and determine the appropriate course of action, ensuring compliance with procurement regulations and laws. The contracting officer is trained to handle these situations and can work to resolve disputes effectively at the agency level.

Addressing a protest to the agency head, legal counsel, or the Office of the Inspector General may not yield the appropriate response, as these individuals or offices have different responsibilities and may not have the authority or usual procedures to handle procurement-related protests. The contracting officer is specifically designated to address these types of issues, making them the correct choice for addressing protests.