Seven Steps to Avoid Bid Protests

This event qualifies for 8 CLPs

You may have noticed that bid protests are rising rapidly in the federal contracting arena, as are the number of protests being sustained by GAO and the Court of Federal Claims. Both of these trends can have enormously negative consequences for your agency.

So how can you avoid bid protests in the first place? Find out why bid protests occur and learn the steps you can take to prevent them in our Seven Steps to Avoid Bid Protests training course. You’ll also learn about pre- and post-award protests, the different protest forums available, and how to win when protests are filed. Attendees will benefit from hearing the latest trends in protests and from working through protest scenarios.

Our instructors are experienced attorneys who will help you learn the most common areas of protest and how you can avoid those mistakes.

You'll Learn How To:

Recognize factors fueling the rise in filed protests and sustained protests
Identify types of procurement actions that increase potential for protests
Mitigate protest risk through use of the seven steps
Win protests filed
Avoid the potential for protests in the future

What's Included:

Breakfast
Light refreshments
Course materials

Speaker and Presenter Information

Christoph Mlinarchik, JD, CFCM is an attorney, prolific author of 50+ scholarly publications, consultant, frequent public speaker, and professional instructor of contract law, federal acquisitions, and contracting topics. Christoph was recently honored with the “Top Professionals Under 40 Award” by the National Contract Management Association (NCMA). He is currently a senior policy analyst and contracting subject matter expert (SME) for a Defense contractor, supporting the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, Office of Small Business Programs. Christoph is also the owner of Christoph LLC, so he understands and values the immense contributions of small business contractors.

Christoph has trained and advised hundreds of federal, military, and contractor professionals and corporations nationwide—from novices to C-level executives. Clients rely on Christoph’s expertise to navigate the complex federal contracting marketplace. Contracts managers, attorneys, sales directors, proposal experts, and other professionals consistently provide outstanding reviews for Christoph’s teaching skills, presentation style, and consulting expertise.

As a former senior contracting officer for the Department of Defense, Christoph has diverse and extensive federal contracting experience across the Air Force, Navy, Pentagon, and Office of the Secretary of Defense (Fourth Estate). He served special details as an Air Force Judge Advocate General (JAG) acquisitions attorney, and a procurement analyst for the Source Selection Policy and Clearance Committee of Air Force Space Command. Christoph has negotiated, reviewed, or managed billions of dollars of federal contracts over the course of his career. This real-world, Government experience provides an invaluable perspective for clients.

Christoph is a frequent keynote speaker, panelist, and special lecturer for several industry trade groups, such as National Contract Management Association (NCMA) and American Proposal Management Professionals (APMP). He was also a guest speaker on “Power, Influence, and Leadership” at the United States Air Force Academy, where he taught the future best and brightest Air Force Officers. After graduating from the University of Virginia, Christoph earned his Juris Doctor (JD), cum laude (with honors) from American University in Washington, D.C.

Relevant Government Agencies

Air Force, Army, Navy & Marine Corps, Intelligence Agencies, DOD & Military, Office of the President (includes OMB), Dept of Agriculture, Dept of Commerce, Dept of Education, Dept of Energy, Dept of Health & Human Services, Dept of Homeland Security, Dept of Housing & Urban Development, Dept of the Interior, Dept of Justice, Dept of Labor, Dept of State, Dept of Transportation, Dept of Treasury, Dept of Veterans Affairs, EPA, GSA, USPS, SSA, NASA, Other Federal Agencies, State Government, County Government, Municipal Government, FEMA, Office of Personnel Management, Coast Guard, National Institutes of Health, FAA, Census Bureau, USAID, National Guard Association, EEOC, Federal Government, State & Local Government, FDA, Foreign Governments/Agencies