‘Loser’s pay’ rules coming despite declining bid protests

‘Loser’s pay’ rules coming despite declining bid protests

Vendors who file frivolous bid protests will now be held more accountable under a provision in the 2026 defense authorization bill. The “loser pays” language is trying to actively discourage incumbent contractors from filing protests just to keep getting paid. But experts say new data from the Government Accountability Office shows vendors are becoming more discerning when it comes to filing complaints, seemingly making this new language less ne…