---
title: "Decide whether a late proposal may be considered"
url: "https://ailawframework.com/practice/government-procurement-and-tendering/decide-whether-a-late-submission-may-be-accepted/united-states"
type: "task_jurisdiction_version"
site: "AI Law Framework"
id: "A50-CO20261022-12-US"
practice_area: "Government Procurement & Tendering"
tier: "yellow"
lawyer_review: "required"
jurisdictions: ["US"]
last_reviewed: "2026-10-22"
---

# Decide whether a late proposal may be considered

> Record the time the solicitation set for receipt, the time the proposal reached the designated office, the transmission method, and whether any other proposal was received.…

Canonical page: https://ailawframework.com/practice/government-procurement-and-tendering/decide-whether-a-late-submission-may-be-accepted/united-states  
Last reviewed: 2026-10-22

Site index for agents: https://ailawframework.com/llms.txt

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Practice area | [Government Procurement & Tendering](https://ailawframework.com/practice/government-procurement-and-tendering.md) |
| Human involvement | Yellow: Lawyer and AI draft together |
| How AI is used | Record the time the solicitation set for receipt, the time the proposal reached the designated office, the transmission method, and whether any other proposal was received. Do not decide that the proposal may be considered. |
| What the lawyer must review | The lawyer decides under FAR 15.208. The offeror must get the proposal to the office named in the solicitation by the time stated. If no time is stated, the time is 4:30 p.m. local time at that office on the due date. A proposal received after the exact time is late and will not be considered unless it is received before award, accepting it would not unduly delay the acquisition, and one of three things is true: an authorised electronic submission reached the initial point of entry to the Government infrastructure by 5:00 p.m. one working day before the date specified; acceptable evidence shows it was received at the designated installation and was under the Government's control before the time set; or it was the only proposal received. A late modification of an otherwise successful proposal that makes the terms more favorable to the Government will be considered at any time and may be accepted. The contracting officer must promptly tell the offeror that the proposal was late and whether it will be considered, unless award is imminent and the FAR 15.503(b) notice would suffice. That notice section was not opened. A challenge to a federal award, including the treatment of a late proposal, is a GAO bid protest. The GAO FAQ says an award protest is generally filed within 10 days of when the protester knows or should know the basis, with a special case where a required debriefing is received, and that the filing rules are strictly enforced. GAO must decide a protest within 100 calendar days. Days in the GAO rules are calendar days. |
| Written for | United States |
| Applies to | [Decide whether a late submission may be accepted](https://ailawframework.com/practice/government-procurement-and-tendering/decide-whether-a-late-submission-may-be-accepted.md) |

## Checking plan

- What the AI does: Record the time the solicitation set for receipt, the time the proposal reached the designated office, the transmission method, and whether any other proposal was received. Do not decide that the proposal may be considered.
- Basis: Checked against the linked sources on 22 October 2026. Confirm the current instrument before reliance.

## Notes

- A courier engaged by the offeror is not, on this page, Government mishandling. The offeror is responsible for reaching the designated office on time.
- GAO's FAQ says protests may not be filed against state or local procurement actions. A Texas purchase uses the protest procedure that agency has adopted, not GAO.

## Sources

- [FAR 15.208, Submission, modification, revision, and withdrawal of proposals (acquisition.gov, FAC 2026-01, effective 13 March 2026)](https://www.acquisition.gov/far/15.208) (checked 2026-10-22)
- [GAO, Bid protest frequently asked questions](https://www.gao.gov/legal/bid-protests/faqs) (checked 2026-10-22)
- [GAO, Bid protests](https://www.gao.gov/legal/bid-protests) (checked 2026-10-22)

*Practice guidance for planning and review. Confirm current primary sources and the requirements of the actual matter. This is general information, not legal advice.*