The Contested Solicitations and Awards Subcommittee is a division of the State Contracting Standards Board (SCSB). The Committee’s job is to handle complaints from bidders or proposers that believe a state contract was not handled fairly.
For complaints that meet criteria, the Subcommittee will try to work out a solution between the two sides. If that doesn't work, they will issue a written decision within 30 days explaining what the agency did, whether the complaint had merit, and what options are available if they want to take the matter further.
Statutes
Read the full C.G.S legislation on contested solicitations here.
Meeting minutes and agendas Explore Contested Solicitations and Awards Subcommittee meeting minutes and agendas.
Formal procedures
1) The Chair of the Board shall appoint three Board members, at least one of whom shall be a legislative appointee, to serve as the Contested Solicitations and Awards Subcommittee.
2) Any bidder or proposer on a state contract may contest the solicitation or award of a contract to the Subcommittee in writing. "In writing" shall mean a written document submitted by email, postal mail, hand-delivery, or fax. If hand delivered, a receipt shall be forwarded to the bidder or proposer noting the day and time of the delivery.
3) Such writing shall be directed to Gregory F. Daniels, preferably via email to greg.daniels@ct.gov, via hand-delivery or postal mail to 165 Capitol Avenue, Suite 1060, Hartford, CT 06106.
4) Such writing must be submitted within 14 days of the time the bidder or proposer knew or should have known of the facts giving rise to such contest.
5) The Chief Procurement Officer or the Executive Director shall immediately refer the submission to the Subcommittee. The Subcommittee shall review the submission in consultation with the Chief Procurement Officer or the Executive Director to determine if it is timely. If the Subcommittee finds the submission not to be timely it shall issue a written decision stating that the submission was not timely submitted to the Board.
6) If the submission is timely, the Subcommittee shall review the contest to ensure that it is challenging only procedural elements of the solicitation or award, or that it claims an unauthorized, unwarranted noncompetitive solicitation process. If the Subcommittee finds the submission does not challenge the procedural elements of the solicitation or award or the contest doesn’t claim unauthorized, unwarranted, noncompetitive solicitation process, it shall issue a written decision stating that the contest does not meet the requirements for consideration by the Subcommittee.
7) The Subcommittee may ask the Chief Procurement Officer or the Executive Director to obtain additional information in writing on the Subcommittee's behalf.
8) The assigned Subcommittee may attempt to settle and resolve such contests. If the resolution is successful, the matter will be closed.If a resolution is unsuccessful, the Subcommittee shall issue a decision on the matter, in writing within thirty days of receipt of the contest by the Board. Such decision shall:
- DescrIbe the procedure used by such agency in soliciting and awarding such contract
- Indicate such agency’s finding as to the merits of such bidder or proposer’s contest; and
- Inform such bidder or proposer of their right to review the agency’s findings.
10) Within the 30 days of the filing of the contest, the Subcommittee may meet with the parties to discuss the matter and its decision.