{
  "node_id": "us-31-usc-3553-gao-bid-protest-review",
  "title": "31 USC § 3553 - Government Accountability Office Bid Protest Jurisdiction and Stay of Performance",
  "domain": "Public Sector & Government Procurement",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "last_updated": "2026-06-01",
  "bluf": "31 USC § 3553 (enacted as part of the Competition in Contracting Act of 1984, Pub. L. 98-369; amended Pub. L. 104-106 and Pub. L. 116-283) gives the Comptroller General (head of the Government Accountability Office) jurisdiction to decide bid protests submitted by interested parties: subsection (a) establishes the Comptroller General's duty to decide protests submitted by interested parties (defined as actual or prospective bidders/offerors whose direct economic interest would be affected); subsection (b) prescribes the procedural deadlines - GAO notifies the federal agency within one day of receiving a protest; agencies file complete reports within 30 days (or 20 days under express option) of notification; the Comptroller General issues a decision within 100 days of protest receipt; subsection (c) establishes the automatic stay of contract performance during pending protest - a contract may not be awarded after the agency receives notice of a protest while the protest is pending, except where the head of procuring activity makes a written finding of urgent and compelling circumstances significantly affecting US interests; subsection (d) authorizes override of the stay by the procuring activity head with notification to the Comptroller General; the GAO bid protest regime operates in parallel with the Court of Federal Claims jurisdiction under 28 USC § 1491(b); protests filed within 10 days of basis known per 4 CFR § 21.2.",
  "paywall": {
    "status": "LOCKED",
    "unlock_cost_usd": "0.01",
    "skyfire_id": "41779894-ece2-4163-9761-b3b1b76e19b0"
  },
  "crosswalks": {
    "_available_keys": [
      "gao_bid_protest_regulations",
      "court_of_federal_claims_parallel_jurisdiction",
      "agency_level_protest_far_part_33",
      "industry_mapping",
      "stay_override_test_subsection_d",
      "enforcement_anchors"
    ],
    "_note": "Full crosswalk values included in vault response"
  },
  "dependencies": [
    "us-41-usc-3301-full-open-competition-federal-procurement",
    "us-41-usc-3304-noncompetitive-procedures-exceptions",
    "us-10-usc-3201-dod-competition-requirements"
  ],
  "primary_citations_count": 5
}