What is the CO allowed to do upon receiving notice of a protest filed with the GAO before the award?

Upon receiving notice of a protest filed with the Government Accountability Office (GAO) before the award, the Contracting Officer (CO) may award the contract with the approval of the Head of Contracting Activity (HCA) based on urgency. This provision is in place to ensure that critical needs of the government can be met, especially if a situation arises where delay could have severe consequences, such as in national security contexts or urgent procurements.

The requirement for HCA approval serves as a check, ensuring that the decision to proceed with the award under protest is made at a higher level and is justified by the circumstances surrounding the urgency. This option acknowledges the need for a swift response in particular situations while still maintaining some oversight and accountability in the contract award process.

The other options do not align with the standard procedures. Canceling the contract entirely does not address the urgent requirement and is not typically permissible once the procurement process has been initiated. Informing all bidders involved isn’t a proactive measure a CO can take in this situation, as the protest impacts the validity of decisions until resolution. Transferring the decision to a higher authority isn't a standard action for the CO in response to a protest; the CO retains the responsibility unless specific obligations dictate otherwise.