I was on the inside of the $100 million contract with a Big IT firm. We started with over 25 potential bidders and gradually eliminated a few at a time until we identified 7 from which we would actually accept bids. 5 actually submitted serious bids. (Two made a joint bid.)
We narrowed the 5 down to 2 and then to the finalist. After we announced the finalist, both Federal and State regulations made us observe a 30 day protest period. (in reality any firm including one not in the 25 could sue us at any time and grind everything to a halt.
All of us on the inside of awarding the contract were sworn to secrecy. Only after the final protest period had ended did I talk about it with my family, and on the internet... at which time in FR I observed that the Big IT company was hiring IT of many skill sets.
Over my lifetime I have worked with half of the 25 and all of the 5 finalists. I have opinions of my past experiences with those companies. But I had to separate the past from the present.
Of course, the Big IT firm hired over 100 people, of which 75 were stil empoyed when we cancelled the contract for non-performance. The Big IT firm could not (or did not) find qualified people for the top 5 positions on the project.
Our project has not been sued...yet. But it could be at any time.
Other projects have been sued. Our project did not have to face the environmental lawyers. The infrastructure projects will. Either stock up on popcorn or peptobismal if the infractructure projects materialized.
Yes, any large award WILL be protested. I also have had a bidder on a 4-figure purchase call me to ask why he didn’t get the contract. (50 percent higher than the competition)