◆ SpookStack

SESRET (c) An interested party filing a protest with the Department of Justice has the choice of requesting either that the Contracting Officer or the Agency Protest Official decide the protest. (d)} The decision by the Agency Protest Official is an alternative to a decision by the Contracting Officer. The Agency Protest Official will not consider appeals from the Contracting Officer's decision on an agency protest. (e) The deciding official must conduct a scheduling conference with the protestor within five (5) days after the protest is filed. The scheduling conference will establish deadlines for oral or written arguments in support of the agency protest and for many officials to present information in response to the protest issues. The deciding official may hear oral arguments in support of the agency protest at the same time as the scheduling conference, depending on availability of the necessary parties. (f) Oral conferences may take place either by telephone or in person. Other parties may attend at the discretion of the deciding official. g) The protestor has only one opportunity to support or explain the substance of its protest. Department of Justice procedures do not provide for any discovery. The deciding official may request additional information from either meeting to the maximum extent practicable. (h} An interested party may represent itself or be represented by legal counsel. The Department of Justice will not reimburse the protestor for any legal fees related to the agency protest. (1) The Department of Justice will stay award or suspend contract Performance in accordance with FAR 33.103(f). The stay or suspension unless over-ridden, remains in effect until the protest is decided, dismissed, or withdrawn. (j) The deciding official will make a best effort to issue a decision on the protest within twenty (20) days after the filing date. The decision may be oral or written. (k} The Department of Justice may dismiss or stay proceeding on an agency protest if a protest on the same or similar basis is filed with a protest forum outside the Department of Justice. (End of Clause) L.2 Costs Incurred by Responding to the Solicitation The government shall not reimburse any costs incurred by recipients of this solicitation documentation resulting from the formulation a proposal or response to this solicitation. L.3 Commitment AP-79 SECRET. Page 53 of 54