Section 41-4-161 - Filing of protests; resolution; administrative review(a)(1) A bona fide prospective bidder or offeror who is aggrieved in connection with the solicitation of a contract may protest to the Chief Procurement Officer within 14 days of the date of issuance of the solicitation or any amendment to it, if the amendment is at issue.(2)a. Except as provided in paragraph b., a bona fide actual bidder or offeror who is aggrieved in connection with the intended award or award of a contract may protest to the Chief Procurement Officer within 14 days of the date of the award or notification of intent to award, whichever is earlier, is posted in accordance with this article.b. A matter that could have been raised under subdivision (1) as a protest of the solicitation may not be raised as a protest of the award or intended award of a contract.(3) A protest filed under subdivision (1) or (2) shall be in writing, be filed with the Chief Procurement Officer, and set forth the grounds of the protest and the relief requested with enough particularity to give notice of the issues to be decided.(b) The Chief Procurement Officer, or his or her designee, may settle and resolve the protest of a bona fide actual or prospective bidder or offeror concerning the solicitation or award of a contract in accordance with rules adopted under this article.(c) If the protest is not resolved by mutual agreement within 10 days after the protest is filed, the Chief Procurement Officer shall commence an administrative review of the protest and issue a decision in writing within 14 days of the review.(d) A copy of the decision under subsection (c) shall be mailed or otherwise furnished immediately to the protestor and any other party intervening.(e) A decision under subsection (c) shall be final and conclusive, unless fraudulent, or a party adversely affected by the decision appeals administratively to the Director of Finance in accordance with Section 41-4-164.(f) In the event of a timely protest under subsection (a) or an appeal under Section 41-4-164, the state may not proceed further with the solicitation or with the award of the contract until five days after notice of the final decision is provided to the protestor, except that solicitation or award of a protested contract is not stayed if the Chief Procurement Officer, after consultation with the head of the using agency or the head of a purchasing agency, makes a written determination that the solicitation or award of the contract without further delay is necessary to protect the best interests of the state.Ala. Code § 41-4-161 (1975)
Added by Act 2021-296,§ 2, eff. 10/1/2022.