---
kind: "section"
citation: "4 C.F.R. § 21.10"
title: "4"
number: "21.10"
heading: "Express options, flexible alternative procedures, accelerated schedules, summary decisions, and status and other conferences."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/4/21.10"
---

# §21.10. Express options, flexible alternative procedures, accelerated schedules, summary decisions, and status and other conferences.

- (a) Upon a request filed by a party or on its own initiative, GAO may decide a protest using an express option.
- (b) The express option will be adopted at the discretion of GAO and only in those cases suitable for resolution within 65 days.
- (c) Requests for the express option shall be filed not later than 5 days after the protest or supplemental/amended protest is filed. GAO will promptly notify the parties whether the case will be handled using the express option.
- (d) When the express option is used, the following schedule applies instead of those deadlines in [§ 21.3](/cfr/4/21.3.md) and [§ 21.7](/cfr/4/21.7.md):
  - (1) The agency shall file a complete report within 20 days after it receives notice from GAO that the express option will be used.
  - (2) Comments on the agency report shall be filed within 5 days after receipt of the report.
  - (3) Where circumstances demonstrate that a case is no longer suitable for resolution using the express option, GAO shall establish a new schedule for submissions by the parties.
- (e) GAO, on its own initiative or upon a request filed by the parties, may use flexible alternative procedures to promptly and fairly resolve a protest, including alternative dispute resolution, establishing an accelerated schedule, and/or issuing a summary decision.
- (f) GAO may conduct status and other conferences by telephone or in person with all parties participating in a protest to promote the expeditious development and resolution of the protest.

## Notes

### Amendments

[61 FR 39042, July 26, 1996, as amended at 67 FR 79836, Dec. 31, 2002; 83 FR 13825, Apr. 2, 2018]

### Authority

Authority: 31 U.S.C. 3551-3556.

### Source

Source: 61 FR 39042, July 26, 1996, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[61 FR 39042, July 26, 1996, as amended at 67 FR 79836, Dec. 31, 2002; 83 FR 13825, Apr. 2, 2018]