FCC Protest Procedure
To establish a fair and transparent process for vendors to protest procurement decisions in accordance with COMAR Title 21, Subtitle 10. This procedure applies to all formal solicitations (RFPs, IFBs, RFQs) issued by FCC where the total contract value exceeds the small procurement threshold.

Filing a Bid or Award Protest
To file a protest, vendors must adhere to strict timing and formatting requirements. Solicitation protests must be submitted prior to the bid or proposal due date, while award protests must be filed within seven (7) calendar days of the award notice being posted or sent.

This 7-day deadline is firm and non-negotiable, in accordance with COMAR 21.10.02.03. All protests must be submitted in writing and include the vendor’s name, address, and contact information; the relevant solicitation or contract number; a detailed statement outlining the legal and factual grounds for the protest; any supporting documentation, if applicable; and a clear statement of the specific relief being requested.

Protest Submission Method
All protests shall be submitted exclusively via email. Protests submitted by any other method, including physical mail or in-person delivery, will not be accepted or considered. The protest must be received by the deadline specified in COMAR 21.10.02.03 to be deemed timely. Protests must be emailed to: Procurement Administrator at [email protected].

Review and Decision
At Frederick Community College, any protest related to a procurement decision must be submitted in writing and emailed to the Procurement Administrator within seven calendar days of the bid opening or notification of award. Upon receiving the protest, the Procurement Administrator will conduct a review and issue a written decision within ten working days. If the protesting party is dissatisfied with the outcome, they may request an administrative review, which is handled by the CFO & Vice President for Administration. The decision rendered by the CFO/Vice President for Administration serves as the final determination and concludes the internal protest process.