If a Contracting Officer receives an agency protest 8 days after contract award, what must the Contracting Officer do?

When a Contracting Officer receives an agency protest within the specified timeline after a contract award, it is crucial to follow specific procedural steps to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and to protect the integrity of the procurement process. In this scenario, since the protest was received within 10 days of contract award, the appropriate action is to immediately suspend performance of the contract.

Suspending performance is necessary to allow for a fair resolution of the protest without any further actions or expenditures by the contractor that may complicate the situation. It effectively pauses all contract activities until the protest is resolved, thereby minimizing potential disruptions and protecting the rights of all parties involved.

This action is important because it demonstrates the agency's commitment to uphold fairness and transparency in the procurement process. By suspending performance, the Contracting Officer allows for an assessment of the protest’s validity and any issues raised without jeopardizing the contract’s integrity or leading to further complications.

While consulting with legal counsel and notifying the contractor are important actions in the broader context of managing protests, the immediate and critical requirement upon receiving such a protest is to suspend contract performance to facilitate an appropriate review of the issues presented.