To whom must protests directed to the agency be addressed?

Protests directed to an agency regarding a contract must be addressed to the Contracting Officer. This is because the Contracting Officer is the individual responsible for managing the contract and overseeing the procurement process. They are the point of contact for issues related to the solicitation and award of contracts. When a protest is raised, it is essential that it reaches the person who has the authority to take action on it or who is involved in the decision-making process.

Addressing the protest to the Contracting Officer ensures that it is received by the appropriate authority who can respond to the claims being made. The Contracting Officer has the position and responsibility to investigate the protest and make determinations related to it, thus playing a crucial role in ensuring fair and regulated procurement practices. Other roles, like the Agency Head or Legal Advisor, may be involved in the process but do not typically handle initial protests directly. Instead, those individuals may be consulted or informed once the Contracting Officer has assessed the situation.