If an agency protest is received before award, can the Contracting Officer proceed with the award?

When an agency protest is received before the award, it indicates that a party has raised concerns about the procurement process or the decisions made regarding the award of a contract. In this situation, the Contracting Officer is generally required to pause the award process in order to address the protest properly and ensure that the concerns raised are taken into consideration.

Proceeding with the award while a protest is pending could undermine the integrity of the procurement process and lead to potential legal challenges. By halting the award, the agency can investigate the protest and make an informed decision on how to proceed, demonstrating fairness and adherence to procurement regulations. This helps to ensure that all parties have a fair opportunity to contest decisions that may affect them before a contract is formally awarded, preserving the integrity of the contracting process.

Therefore, the correct response accurately reflects the need for the agency to refrain from proceeding with the award until the protest is resolved.