What is one potential outcome of a successful protest regarding a contract award?

A successful protest regarding a contract award can indeed lead to the initiation of a new bidding process. When a protest is upheld, it typically indicates that there were significant issues with the procurement process or that the selection decision did not adhere to the established criteria or regulations. As a result, the agency may be required to reevaluate the bids or proposals that were submitted, often necessitating a new round of competition to ensure fairness and compliance with federal acquisition regulations.

This outcome helps to maintain the integrity of the procurement process and provides an avenue for ensuring that contracts are awarded based on merit and adherence to the rules governing federal acquisitions. The goal is to restore public confidence in the fairness and transparency of the contracting process. In contrast to other potential outcomes, initiating a new bidding process specifically addresses and rectifies the identified issues while allowing for a fresh opportunity for suppliers to compete for the contract.