Protest Decision Authority means agency officials above the level of the contracting officer who have been designated by the Procurement Executive to issue agency protest decisions under Executive Order 12979.

(a) Contracting officers shall promptly notify the Procurement Counsel, and seek legal advice upon receiving notice that a protest has been filed in any forum.

(b) The designee authorized to determine that a solicitation, proposed award, or award under protest does not comply with the requirements of law or regulation, and to take the actions specified at FAR 33.102 (b) is set forth in CAM 1301.70. Corrective action shall only be taken after consultation with Procurement Counsel.

(a) Insert provision 1352.233-70, Agency Protests, in all DOC solicitations, except these issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

(b) All agency protest decisions shall be reviewed by Procurement Counsel before submission to the protester.

(a) Insert clause 1352.233-71, GAO and Court of Federal Claims Protests, in all DOC solicitations, except those for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

(b) Only Procurement Counsel shall communicate with the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the Court of Federal Claims and the Department of Justice regarding applicable protests. Procurement Counsel shall be responsible for preparation and submission of the agency report to the GAO and litigation reports to the Department of Justice.

(c) The designee authorized to authorize, on a nondelegable basis, the award of a contract when the agency has received notice from the GAO of a preaward protest filed directly with the GAO is set forth in CAM 1301.70.

(d) The designee authorized to authorize, on a nondelegable basis, contract performance notwithstanding protest after award is set forth in CAM 1301.70.

(e) The designee authorized to report and explain the reasons why the agency has not fully implement GAO recommendations with respect to a protest is set forth in CAM 1301.70.

The designee authorized to determine that the application of the Contract Disputes Act of 1978 to a contract with an international organization or a subsidiary body of that organization would not be in the public interest is set forth in CAM 1301.70.

Contracting officers shall promptly notify Procurement Counsel and seek legal advice upon receiving a contractor claim.

All contracting officer decisions on claims shall be reviewed by Procurement Counsel before submission to the contractor.

Only Procurement Counsel will communicate with the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals or the Department of Justice regarding appeals of contracting officer decisions. Procurement Counsel shall be responsible for preparation and submission of all filings with the Board.

Alternate I of FAR 52.233-1, Disputes, may be used at the discretion of the contracting officer.