Government Contract Bid Protest - Minnesota

MINNESOTA STATE-AGENCY VENDOR PROTEST

Use and Procedure Gate

This form is designed for a vendor protest concerning a Minnesota state-agency purchase handled by an Authority for Local Purchase (ALP) certified buyer. It is a written submission to the contracting agency, not a pleading filed in a central protest tribunal.

Before filing, review the solicitation, every amendment, the award or intent-to-award notice, and agency-specific instructions. OSP Acquisitions Policy 14 does not state a uniform vendor filing deadline. Complete the deadline analysis below and submit promptly by a delivery method that creates proof of receipt.

The current ALP procedure directs the agency's ALP certified buyer to:

• answer the vendor in writing when the protest is not valid and no correction is needed;
• send OSP a written protest and the agency's response when the protest was received in writing; and
• contact the OSP Acquisitions Manager for guidance before taking action when the protest may be valid.

This template does not assume an automatic stay, an award of protest costs or attorney fees, a protective-order process, an agency report, or a further administrative appeal. Add any such request only when the solicitation or separate current authority expressly supports it.

Filing Checklist

• ☐ Confirm this purchase is within the ALP procedure or identify the controlling alternative procedure.
• ☐ Identify the ALP certified buyer and the delivery address stated in the solicitation or award notice.
• ☐ Calculate every solicitation-specific protest or objection deadline.
• ☐ State each challenged act separately and cite the solicitation provision or legal authority involved.
• ☐ Attach the relied-on record in a readable, consecutively labeled exhibit set.
• ☐ Identify confidential material and the legal basis for requested treatment before submitting it.
• ☐ Keep proof showing the complete submission and the agency's date and time of receipt.

TO: [ALP CERTIFIED BUYER NAME AND TITLE]

AGENCY: [MINNESOTA STATE AGENCY]

DELIVERY ADDRESS / EMAIL: [________________________________]

FROM: [PROTESTING VENDOR LEGAL NAME]

DATE: [__/__/____]

SUBJECT: Vendor Protest — [SOLICITATION OR CONTRACT NUMBER AND TITLE]

1. Vendor and Procurement Information

2. Timeliness and Delivery

The solicitation, amendment, award notice, or agency instruction states the following deadline or objection procedure:

[____________________________________________________________]

The calculation supporting timeliness is:

[____________________________________________________________]

This protest is being delivered by [EMAIL / PORTAL / HAND DELIVERY / COURIER / OTHER] to [RECIPIENT] on [DATE AND TIME]. Proof of delivery is attached as Exhibit [____].

If no express vendor-protest deadline was located, describe the search performed and explain why the submission is prompt:

[____________________________________________________________]

3. Action Protested

The vendor protests the following specific agency act, omission, evaluation, award decision, or procurement irregularity:

[____________________________________________________________]

The vendor learned of the challenged matter on [DATE] through [NOTICE, DOCUMENT, DEBRIEFING, COMMUNICATION, OR OTHER SOURCE].

4. Factual Record

State the relevant facts chronologically. Distinguish known facts from assumptions and identify the supporting exhibit for each material assertion.

1. [FACT — EXHIBIT REFERENCE]
2. [FACT — EXHIBIT REFERENCE]
3. [FACT — EXHIBIT REFERENCE]
4. [ADDITIONAL FACT]

5. Grounds for Protest

Ground 1 — [SHORT DESCRIPTION]

Requirement involved: [SOLICITATION SECTION / STATUTE / RULE / OSP POLICY / ALP MANUAL PROVISION]

Agency action: [________________________________]

Why the action conflicts with the identified requirement:

[____________________________________________________________]

Material effect on the procurement or vendor:

[____________________________________________________________]

Ground 2 — [SHORT DESCRIPTION]

Requirement involved: [SOLICITATION SECTION / STATUTE / RULE / OSP POLICY / ALP MANUAL PROVISION]

Agency action: [________________________________]

Why the action conflicts with the identified requirement:

[____________________________________________________________]

Material effect on the procurement or vendor:

[____________________________________________________________]

Additional Grounds

[____________________________________________________________]

6. Requested Agency Review and Action

The vendor respectfully requests that the agency:

1. review each ground and the supporting exhibits under the solicitation and applicable Minnesota procurement requirements;
2. provide a written response addressing the vendor's questions, concerns, issues, and objections;
3. if the protest may be valid, obtain guidance from the OSP Acquisitions Manager before taking corrective or other action, consistent with Acquisitions Policy 14;
4. correct any identified procurement error through action authorized by the solicitation and applicable law; and
5. provide written notice of the agency's decision and any further procedure or deadline that applies.

Procurement-specific relief requested:

[____________________________________________________________]

No request in this section should be read to assert an automatic suspension of award or performance. If interim relief is necessary, state the separately grounded legal and factual basis here:

[____________________________________________________________]

7. Confidential or Not-Public Material

The vendor has marked the following material and states the legal basis for the requested treatment:

The vendor understands that a confidentiality label alone does not determine the material's legal classification.

8. Certification and Signature

I certify that I am authorized to submit this protest for the vendor and that, after reasonable inquiry, the factual statements are accurate to the best of my knowledge. Legal conclusions and requested relief are submitted for agency review.

[PROTESTING VENDOR LEGAL NAME]

By: __________________________________

Name: [________________________________]

Title: [________________________________]

Date: [__/__/____]

Counsel, if any: [________________________________]

Minnesota Attorney Registration No.: [________________________________]

Email / Telephone: [________________________________]

9. Exhibit Index

Sources and References

• Minn. Stat. § 16C.03
• Minnesota OSP — Authority for Local Purchase Manual page
• Authority for Local Purchase Manual, § 4.19
• Minnesota OSP — Purchasing Policies and Procedures
• Acquisitions Policy 14

Sources last verified August 15, 2026. The ALP Manual was dated October 30, 2025; the current OSP policy page was modified August 6, 2026 and continued to link Acquisitions Policy 14.